BASF´s crop protection pipeline in good shape

• Value up to €2.1 billion
• F 500® and boscalid lead growth
• New herbicide tolerance project

Farmers are turning to products with BASF’s pipeline active ingredients to keep crops healthy and maximize yields on limited farmland. The result: The value of the company’s pipeline has received a significant boost. Since last calculated a year ago, it has increased to €2.1 billion from €1.8 billion. This year’s innovation highlights include two fungicides, one herbicide and two herbicide tolerance projects.

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Pipeline active ingredients

* thereof 70% achieved in 2008

“New uses for our blockbusters boscalid and the success of F 500® in the new plant health segment as well as exiting development projects have helped boost the value of our pipeline beyond expectations,” says Peter Eckes, head of Research and Development at BASF´s Crop Protection division. Farmers are rewarding us for our long-term commitment to providing them with a steady stream of new, innovative products. This gives us the confidence to continue investing in the new chemistry they need in their crop protection toolbox.”

In the past seven years, BASF has increased the share of sales from new, innovative active ingredients to 28 percent from just 6 percent,” Eckes added. Last year the division also spent €325 million – the equivalent of 9.5 percent of sales – on research and development of new products.

New active ingredients as share of sales

Sales in million €

Our plant health fungicide F 500®, used in products such as Headline® and Opera®, has been an overwhelming success in countries such as Brazil and the United States. Now we are making this landmark active ingredient available to seed companies and to growers in new markets such as Eastern Europe. Peak sales potential of F 500 has increased to €700 million from €500 million. Two label registrations – from the EPA and the Romanian regulatory authorities – confirm what farmers and BASF agronomists have seen for years: Products with F 500 not only provide great control of fungal diseases, they make plants healthier, bringing additional yield benefits of up to 10 percent.

BASF scientists are also making the cornerstone of our boscalid fruit and vegetable offering available to cereals and oilseed farmers. Boscalid’s peak sales potential is up to €250 million from €200 million last year.

To meet growing demand, BASF is increasing the production capacity for these two active ingredients.

This year, products with our new blockbuster herbicide Kixor will hit the market in the United States. as well as several countries in Latin America. With its excellent performance against hard-to-control weeds in important crops, this active ingredient has annual sales potential exceeding €100 million. Kixor is expected to take on a major role in combating weeds that are resistant to glyphosate.

Two herbicide tolerant cropping solutions are also making good progress. After successful field trials, our herbicide tolerance solution for farmers in Latin America has been submitted for registration in Brazil. In addition, BASF scientists are developing new dicamba formulations for next generation two-trait herbicide tolerant seeds. 

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of € 3.4 billion in 2008, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has approximately 97,000 employees and posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.