- Advancing research activities: stronger focus on future issues, global markets and customer industries
- Development of new zinc solutions together with Teck
- TopYield project: BASF Plant Science and Ghent University perform joint research on plant gene networks
- Ecovio F Mulch: biodegradable plastic for agricultural films
- Finsa and BASF develop light yet sturdy wood material
At the research press conference held in Ludwigshafen at the end of March, we provided a comprehensive description of our future research orientation. This is based on the “We create chemistry” strategy, through which we are intensifying our focus on sustainability and innovation as growth drivers. In close collaboration with key sectors, we will concentrate even more on growth fields such as heat management, water treatment and organic electronics. To this end, we are expanding our product and technology portfolio and establishing a more global presence in research. We plan to increase our research and development spending in 2012 to €1.7 billion (2011: €1.6 billion).
In January, we signed a three-year partnership agreement with Teck Resources, one of the world’s largest producers of zinc, to jointly develop innovative zinc solutions to supplement staple foods. Around two billion people do not get enough zinc in their diet, making them susceptible to serious illnesses. Our collaboration with Teck aims to reduce zinc deficiency among 100 million people in developing countries by 2015. In this way, we help to provide healthy food and nutrition to a growing world population.
The VIB Department for Plant Systems Biology at Ghent University in Belgium and BASF Plant Science have signed a cooperation agreement in plant biotechnology. The project, designated TopYield, will develop a novel technology to identify genes and gene networks that control crop yield. The project’s goal is to better understand the synergistic effect of gene networks on crop characteristics. TopYield aims to help advance the development of high-yield crops for sustainable agriculture.
We have expanded our line of biodegradable plastics with the addition of Ecovio® F Mulch, a grade that can be used in the manufacture of agricultural films. In contrast to conventional agricultural films made of polyethylene (PE), film made of Ecovio F Mulch is biodegradable. It is no longer necessary for farmers to dispose of or recycle the film after the harvest; instead, they can plow it under along with the plant residue. This saves time and reduces costs. Producing the film is also cost-efficient, since it can be manufactured at a lighter gauge than conventional PE film without compromising performance. Ecovio F Mulch has been available in commercial quantities around the world since February.
SUPERPAN® STAR is a material we have developed together with Finsa, a renowned producer of wood-based products. It combines the benefits of Finsa’s SUPERPAN wood panel, which is more resistant to bending than conventional chipboard, with BASF’s innovative Kaurit® Light technology. The Kaurit Light polymer is first foamed in a pre-foamer, then added to wood chips and a bonding agent to form the middle layer of the wood panel. The result is a 30% reduction in weight. The market launch of SUPERPAN STAR is planned for 2012.