Key Takeaways:
- EPA Approval: BASF Liberty ULTRA herbicide, incorporating Glu-L™ Technology, has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Improved Weed Control: Demonstrates 20% enhanced efficacy in controlling broadleaf and grass weeds compared to standard formulations.
- Increased Efficiency: Offers 33% more coverage with a lower application rate of 24 fluid ounces per acre.
- Glu-L Technology: Enhances weed penetration with nearly three times more active ingredient reaching the target weeds.
- Target Weeds: Effective against weeds such as Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, giant ragweed, and kochia.
BASF has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for its Liberty® ULTRA herbicide, which utilizes Glu-L™ Technology. This herbicide aims to improve weed control for crops such as soybean, cotton, corn, and canola, and is formulated to address both broadleaf and grass weed challenges.
Liberty ULTRA has been shown to offer 20% better weed control compared to generic alternatives, based on research trials. It also provides 33% more coverage per gallon than standard glufosinate formulations, allowing for more efficient application with fewer inputs.
Features of Liberty ULTRA:
- Weed Control: Developed to address difficult weeds, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, giant ragweed, and kochia.
- Coverage: Provides 33% more coverage with a reduced application rate of 24 fluid ounces per acre compared to the standard 32 fluid ounces.
- Glu-L Technology: The advanced formulation allows for improved penetration of the herbicide into weeds, enhancing the overall effectiveness.
- Performance: Liberty ULTRA is part of BASF’s strategy to develop herbicides using Glu-L Technology, with more products expected to follow.
BASF Agricultural Solution Latest News
Considers An IPO For Its Agricultural Solutions Business (2024/10/07)
BASF has refocused on its Agricultural Solutions segment, aiming to modernize its portfolio management, capital allocation, and performance culture. The strategy emphasizes Agricultural Innovation, sustainability, and operational flexibility. The division will focus on reducing environmental impacts and promoting responsible farming practices. BASF plans to complete legal and ERP separation by 2027, with potential IPOs to invest in innovation and expansion.
Reports First Results from Global Carbon Field Trials, Showing Up to 30% Reduction in Agricultural GHG (2024/09/13)
BASF’s Global Carbon Field Trials reveal that agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 30%. The trials, conducted from 2021 to 2023 across various crops, show that effective GHG reduction requires tailored climate-smart approaches. The trials highlight the success of climate-smart strategies like optimized fertilizers and high-performing seeds. BASF Agricultural Solutions’ Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Marko Grozdanovic, emphasizes the importance of adapting farming practices to tackle climate change. The trials also reveal challenges farmers face, such as adverse weather conditions or emissions-reduction practices negatively affecting crop yields. BASF plans to continue field trials with partners to develop practical solutions.
For further details and access to the full report, visit: BASF Carbon Field Trial Program.
Launches Novel Insecticide Cimegra® in Australia (2024/05/28)
BASF has launched its new insecticide, Cimegra®, in Australia, featuring the novel active ingredient Broflanilide®. Already successfully introduced in China and Indonesia, Cimegra® offers Australian farmers a potent solution for long-duration pest control across a variety of crops. Notably, Cimegra® operates under the IRAC group 30 Mode of Action, a new class of insecticides that includes meta-diamides and isoxazolines, and boasts no known cross-resistance with existing products, making it a valuable tool for managing insecticide resistance. Approved for use on Brassica vegetables, it effectively controls pests like the Diamondback moth through its unique translaminar movement, which targets insects feeding underneath leaves. The product’s versatility, low application rates, and compatibility with other tank-mix products further enhance its value, underscoring BASF’s commitment to innovative crop protection and sustainability.
Partners With Solidaridad In Brazil (2024/04/05)
BASF and Solidaridad have launched a collaborative project in Brazil to study the relationship between sustainable farming practices, biodiversity, and the coexistence of agriculture with pollinators like bees. The initiative focuses on small to mid-sized soybean farmers and is supported by GeoApis and Wheatley Young Partners. The project emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach and aims to explore the prospects of a nature-market in Brazil. This market concept seeks to balance agricultural productivity with environmental conservation, offering a new model for sustainable farming practices.
Growing Home with BASF Returns (2024/02/21)
BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions is inviting Canadian farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario to nominate local organizations for a chance to win one of four $25,000 prizes. The Growing Home with BASF program aims to foster growth and positive change in rural farming communities. The program involves public voting to decide the winning organizations, encouraging community engagement and support. The nomination process ends on March 18, with organizations being assessed for their contribution to Canadian agriculture and rural communities. After the nomination phase, 12 finalists will be announced for a public voting period from April 2-15, determining one winner per province.
New Cotton Seed Varieties (2024/01/17)
BASF has added four new varieties to its cotton seed portfolio – FM 765AX, FM 868AXTP, FM 823AXTP, and ST 6000AXTP – for the 2024 growing season. All new varieties feature Axant Flex Technology, providing excellent weed control and native traits for controlling pests and disease tolerance. These varieties are designed for different regions and offer various benefits like high gin turnout potential, storm tolerance, and resistance to bacterial blight and nematodes.
Cotton Marketer of the Year Award (2024/01/11)
BASF’s Latest Products (2024/01/01)
BASF and Bosch’s joint venture, ONE SMART SPRAY, represents an advancement in agricultural technology, addressing the persistent issue of weed-induced crop losses that can exceed 30%. This innovative solution, built upon BASF’s digital agronomic platform, xarvio®, combines hardware and software to offer real-time weed detection and precise treatment in row crops. By incorporating advanced cameras, sensors, and algorithms, it enables a customized herbicide application strategy, optimizing timing, product selection, and dosing for effective weed control. With extensive global testing showcasing its efficacy in various crops and the ability to process vast amounts of data, ONE SMART SPRAY offers the potential to significantly reduce herbicide usage, resulting in economic and environmental benefits for agriculture.
BASF Launch xarvio® SeedSelect (2023/11/14)
BASF’s xarvio® SeedSelect is an advanced seed variety placement technology that evaluates soybean varieties based on their yield-building abilities, offering a deeper understanding of the field characteristics that best support growth. The algorithm behind this technology is developed from extensive plot trial field research, local topographic and soil attributes, and variety-specific yield-building characteristics. The tool allows retail seed professionals to make informed recommendations, ensuring that the best-suited seed variety is selected for each field environment. The technology is part of the broader xarvio FIELD MANAGER platform, offering comprehensive crop optimization and field-specific agronomic recommendations. By providing prescriptive variety selection and field placement, retailers are better equipped to improve growers’ yield potentials from the outset.
BASF Introduces Poncho Votivo Precise Seed Treatment to Combat Nematodes in Soybeans (2023/10/24)
BASF Agricultural Solutions has launched Poncho Votivo Precise, a seed treatment for soybean crops that protects against nematodes. The treatment creates a biological barrier along the plant’s root system to prevent damage from a variety of nematode species, while the insecticidal component offers immediate protection against early-season insects. The treatment also helps address Sudden Death Syndrome in soybeans exacerbated by nematode pressures.
BASF Invests in New Fermentation Plant for Biological Crop Protection Products (2023/10/13)
BASF will invest in a new fermentation plant for biological crop protection products at its Ludwigshafen site. The plant will employ fermentation technology to convert renewable raw materials into biological fungicides, seed treatments, and a novel insecticide called Inscalis®. This aligns with BASF’s commitment to innovative manufacturing processes based on renewable raw materials. The plant is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2025 and will employ 30 people in production, logistics, engineering, and maintenance roles.
BASF Agricultural Solutions Segment Faces Slight Decline in Q2 2023 (2023/10/09)
BASF’s Agricultural Solutions segment reported sales of €2.2 billion in Q2 2023, marking a 9.3% decline compared to the same period in the prior year. The primary reason for the decline was higher channel inventories in individual core markets and lower agricultural commodity prices. Despite these challenges, the segment implemented price increases, setting it apart from other segments. The overall BASF Group reported a 24.7% decline in sales, amounting to €17.3 billion for the same quarter. BASF has adjusted its outlook for 2023, expecting sales of between €73 billion and €76 billion and an EBIT before special items of between €4.0 billion and €4.4 billion.
BASF Agriculture Solutions Unveils Innovation & Sustainability Strategies in Egypt (2023/09/26)
BASF Agriculture Solutions held a press conference to announce its innovation and sustainability strategies in Egypt. BASF has allocated 900 million Euros for research and development, which has led to the creation of groundbreaking products like Versys™ Insecticide. The company’s sustainability strategy in Egypt is based on three fundamental pillars, one of which is the Container Management Project. The company also offers a Mobile Agricultural Clinic and integrated precision farming technology into its ‘Ardena’ App. By investing in innovation and sustainability, BASF Agriculture Solutions is contributing to Egypt’s agricultural sector and setting a global standard for responsible and sustainable practices.
BASF Enhances Research Capabilities with New Supercomputer Installation (2023/05/26)
BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, has initiated the operation of a new, considerably more powerful supercomputer at its Ludwigshafen site, replacing the previous one. With a staggering computing power of 3 petaflops, the new supercomputer dwarfs its 1.75-petaflop predecessor.
BASF, Kubota, & ZEN-NOH Partner to Advance Rice Production in Japan (2023/05/18)
BASF and Kubota are collaborating to integrate BASF’s advanced xarvio® FIELD MANAGER crop optimization platform with Kubota’s KSAS operating platform. This integration is aimed at increasing convenience, optimizing fertilizer use, boosting yield, and providing a higher return on investment for farmers. The second phase will assess the performance of the integrated platforms through field trials managed by ZEN-NOH during the 2023 growing season. The fully integrated platform is expected to be commercially available in Japan by spring 2024.
BASF’s Q1 2023 Sales Decline, But EBIT Exceeds Estimates (2023/04/13)
BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, reported a 13.4% decline in sales to €19,991 million for Q1 2023, due to lower volumes. However, EBIT before special items came to €1,931 million, higher than the expert average. Chemicals, Materials, and Surface Technologies outperformed their respective analyst projections for EBIT before special items. The group’s net income of €1,562 million was much higher than the prior year’s result and the average analyst projection. The company’s preliminary financial data shows that it is coping with the present economic environment and will likely continue to produce impressive results in the future.
BASF Provides Updates On Innovation Pipeline (2023/03/16)
BASF, a leading global chemical company, recently showcased its latest advancements in the agricultural innovation pipeline, focusing on crop protection, seeds and traits, and digital solutions. These advancements provide farmers with much-needed solutions to address local and crop-specific pest pressures, climate challenges, regulatory requirements, and consumer expectations. The company’s robust innovation pipeline has an estimated peak sales potential of over €7.5 billion, driven by products slated for launch within the next decade.
Image provided by BASF
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