FEATURE Sponsored by RIZOBACTER Where does BASF stand out in the market as it pertains to seed treatment? Giving Every Every Advantage BASF delivers market-leading innovation to help growers make the most of their seed investments. AgroPages got the chance to speak with three leads at BASF’s seed treatment department. Brad May Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing Seed Treatments Can you tell us about BASF’s full seed treatment offering? At BASF, we understand that farmers have the biggest job on Earth, and they need their seeds to work hard as well. For that reason, we’ve developed a diverse portfolio of market-leading seed treatments that deliver what local growers need for their individual farms – no matter where they are across the globe. Our fully integrated seed treatment portfolio offers the most diversified line of products, along with robust formulations, so growers can improve their crop performance and protect their investment. From fungicide and insecticide chemistry and inoculants to advanced biologicals, nematode management, and coatings and colorants, our products protect seeds from germination to emergence, promote early-season vigor, limit disease and insect pressure, and provide tested plant health benefits, including improved cold and drought tolerance. Within our ranks at BASF, we have the industry’s leading seed treatment specialists and decades of pioneering research, which helps us connect innovative thinking and practical action toward our primary goal: giving every seed every advantage. We are proud to offer a wide range of seed treatments to protect and enhance seed investments around the world. As previously mentioned, our diverse portfolio sets us apart. We are constantly researching and innovating to either expand our current offerings or develop new solutions. As a result, we have the No. 1 best-selling global corn insecticide seed treatment in Poncho Votivo, as well as the No. 1 best-selling soybean SDS fungicide seed treatment in ILEVO and a best-selling cereal T1 fungicide seed treatment in Systiva. Aside from our product offerings, our commitment to customer service is also one of our key differentiators. We understand that no matter where you are, farming is tough work, and each day brings a new challenge. We put customers at the center of our attention and decisions, and work to add maximum value for them. Seed treatment is just the start of a strong relationship between BASF and our customer: Day after day, our seed treatment specialists are available to answer questions, make recommendations, and see farmers through every stage of the growing season. Seeds are the most important investment a farmer can make, so we are there with them every step of the way to help them balance seed performance, profitability, and sustainability. And we back up those individual actions by building our 【Video】Seed Treatments from BASF – Giving Seeds Every Advantage 20 2021 Seed Treatment Special solutions with a crop system view, providing an integrated package of crop management solutions beyond a single portfolio element. What do you envision for the future of farming, particularly as it pertains to seed treatment? Going forward, high demand for sustainable agriculture in the global market and its role as an insurance for seed investments will be important drivers for the growth of the seed treatment portfolio. More specifically, we will work to improve existing formulations where needed, develop fungicides with a broader disease treatment spectrum, more specialized insecticides, and new chemical nematicides. What are some of your seed treatment sustainability initiatives? As an agriculture division, BASF has committed to clear and measurable targets to boost sustainable agriculture by 2030. Focusing on the biggest levers that will make agriculture more sustainable and contribute to the most pressing needs of society, BASF will work toward helping farmers achieve a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions per ton of crop produced, annually increasing sales share of solutions with a substantial sustainability contribution in the value chain by 7%, bringing digital technologies to more than 400 million hectares of farmland, and continuing to ensure the safe use of BASF’s products with the right stewardship. Our Seed Treatment solutions play an important role in advancing these sustainability targets. Seed treatments employ a highly targeted and precise approach to pest and disease control, which, in turn, has less of an impact on the surrounding environment and helps farmers accomplish more with less. 2021 Seed Treatment Special 21
