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HomePosts Tagged "Marko Grozdanovic"
Agbiologicals, Agribusiness, Biostimulants, Collaborations, Company News, R&D, World

Distribution agreement broadens BioSolutions portfolio with seaweed biostimulants Solution for global market responds to climate-smart agriculture needs.

BASF expands its BioSolutions offering by incorporating seaweed biostimulants from Acadian Plant Health™, a renowned marine plant harvesting, cultivation, and extraction company based in Dartmouth, Canada. “Now more than ever, farmers must pursue productivity and sustainability. We connect the best products, technologies, and services, to positively transform agriculture, impact food systems and, ultimately, society. By pooling our expertise and resources, we can make a meaningful change,” said Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions.

Through the agreement with Acadian Plant Health, BASF will leverage the company’s new biostimulant technology to complement its biological portfolio, expand the availability of the products in new markets and increase solutions that will grow more, and sustainably better crops. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that, when applied to plants or the surrounding soil, have the ability to enhance crop growth, improve stress tolerance, and maintain marketable yield. They are complementary tools to conventional agriculture, helping growers manage the demands of food retailers for high-quality produce.

Ascophyllum nodosum is a seaweed that grows in extreme conditions in the North Atlantic tidal zone. As a biostimulant, it is rich in bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, mannitol, and betaines. “These compounds work together to improve plant tolerance to stressful growing conditions, including, but not limited to, heat and drought. At Acadian, we have meticulously determined, isolated, and formulated the most active ingredients that deliver unparalleled protection and resilience to crops,” said Nelson Gibson, President of Acadian Plant Health. “Our goal is to create solutions that drive greater economic well-being of farmers while also ensuring environmental sustainability.”

BASF currently distributes these products in multiple countries in Europe and China and is exploring opportunities to bring these products to customers in other regions and countries. The collaboration will expand the distribution of a newly developed patented abiotic stress management portfolio to a global market. “This partnership is a further step in BASF’s commitment and dedication to develop solutions that respond to the need for climate-smart agriculture,” said Stefan Tresch, Head of New Technologies & BioSolutions at BASF Agricultural Solutions.

Distribution agreement broadens BioSolutions portfolio with seaweed

Agribusiness, Carbon Farming, Company News, Nature, Sustainability, World

Results show reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of up to 30 percent in key crops using tailored solutions.

In a recently published report, BASF has shared the first results from its multi-year Global Carbon Field Trials. The results demonstrate that a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture of up to 30 percent is possible compared to standard farming approaches – a target to which the company committed in 2020 to help farmers reduce their GHG emissions per ton of crop produced. The emissions reduction requires tailored climate smart approaches and varies by specific crop and region.

The trials were conducted across various geographies and key crops (wheat, corn, canola/oilseed rape, rice and soy), with the results from 2021 to 2023 revealing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to mitigate agriculture’s contribution to climate change. Instead, reducing GHG emissions requires a tailored combination of interventions, products, and technologies. The report highlights the success of approaches to lower GHG emissions, such as optimized fertilizer use with digital decision support systems and nitrogen stabilizers, and the use of high-performing seeds, while also considering crop yields.

“Climate change is already happening. Farming methods need to be adapted to meaningfully reduce emissions without compromising yield. This is a challenge, but we have the right solutions to support farmers and I am convinced that if you love agriculture, you must be committed to sustainability as we are,” said Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “The insights we gain from our field trials support our Global Carbon Farming Program, where our recommendations empower farmers to become pioneers for positive change in climate and nature.”

The trials also underscore the challenges farmers face to reduce emissions, particularly adverse weather conditions or emissions-reduction practices that negatively affect yield. This is why BASF will continue to field-test farming strategies through its Global Carbon Farming Trials together with partners to find practical climate-smart solutions supported by science and data for farmers around the globe.

Results show reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

Agro chems – Pesticides, Agrotech, Company News, World

Strengthening the portfolio of biological and biotechnology-based crop protection products.

BASF invests a high double-digit million euro amount in a new fermentation plant for biological and biotechnology-based crop protection products at its Ludwigshafen site. The plant will manufacture products that bring value to farmers including biological fungicides and biological seed treatment. BASF also plans to utilize the plant to produce the main building block of Inscalis®, a novel insecticide derived from a fungal strain. Commissioning is planned for the second half of 2025. The plant will employ 30 people in production, logistics, engineering and maintenance.

The plant will use microorganisms to convert renewable raw materials such as glucose into the desired products – a process known as fermentation.

“We see a growing demand for biological crop protection products. This investment is an important step in building an even stronger and more competitive portfolio in this area,” said Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “In addition, fermentation is a very flexible technology that will allow us to bring more innovative biotechnology-derived products to the market in the future.”

“For production at our Ludwigshafen site, this development is another step in the transition to innovative manufacturing processes with lower energy intensity based on renewable raw materials,” said Christian Aucoin, Senior Vice President, Global Operations at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “The site offers excellent synergies due to its good infrastructure, the integration into an existing high-performance production organization and the proximity of research units such as White Biotechnology.”

Strengthening the portfolio of biological and biotechnology-based