BASF Plant Science
Encyclopedia
BASF Plant Science is a subsidiary of BASF
in which all plant biotechnology activities are consolidated. The headquarters of BASF Plant Science are located in the BASF Agrarzentrum Limburgerhof Germany and in Research Triangle Park North Carolina USA. At these locations BASF Plant Science is working to develop genetically-modified Genetic engineering
seeds to improve productivity of plants and extend the possibilities for plant use in renewable resources.
The company is working to genetically modify and optimize crops like maize, soy, cotton, canola, sugarcane, sugar-beet and potatoes to create a more efficient agriculture through higher yields, increased nutritional value and utilizing plants as renewable resources.
Together with subsidiaries and partners, as well as in cooperation with universities and research institutions, BASF Plant Science is developing new procedures and practices in genetic technology.
The genetically-modified crops are sold and distributed through biotechnology companies like Monsanto
, KWS SAAT AG , Embrapa , or CTC (Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira).
Amflora, was approved for release to the EU market on 2 March 2010 by the European Commission.
A range of more crops are in the developing-pipeline: Maize, soy, canola, cotton.
The aim is a higher yield for farmers in the field through a higher biomass and plants that resist environmental factors such as drought or disease. In cooperation with Monsanto
crops are developed and distributed.
More products are currently being developed for the food industry. Examples include plants with a higher content of Omega-3-fatty acids for preventing cardiovascular diseases and astaxanthin
which is used in fish farming as feed additive .
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
in which all plant biotechnology activities are consolidated. The headquarters of BASF Plant Science are located in the BASF Agrarzentrum Limburgerhof Germany and in Research Triangle Park North Carolina USA. At these locations BASF Plant Science is working to develop genetically-modified Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
seeds to improve productivity of plants and extend the possibilities for plant use in renewable resources.
Company profile
BASF Plant Science GmbH was founded in 1998 and employs approximately 700 people at 8 different locations worldwide.The company is working to genetically modify and optimize crops like maize, soy, cotton, canola, sugarcane, sugar-beet and potatoes to create a more efficient agriculture through higher yields, increased nutritional value and utilizing plants as renewable resources.
Together with subsidiaries and partners, as well as in cooperation with universities and research institutions, BASF Plant Science is developing new procedures and practices in genetic technology.
The genetically-modified crops are sold and distributed through biotechnology companies like Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
, KWS SAAT AG , Embrapa , or CTC (Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira).
Products
BASF Plant Science has already developed two products, Cultivance and NutriDense. Another product, the starch-potatoPotato starch
Potato starch is starch extracted from potatoes. The cells of the root tubers of the potato plant contain starch grains . To extract the starch, the potatoes are crushed; the starch grains are released from the destroyed cells...
Amflora, was approved for release to the EU market on 2 March 2010 by the European Commission.
- Cultivance: Is an herbicide resistant soybean. Cultivance received market permission form Brazil in 2010. Marketing and sales of Cultivance is through Embrapa, a Brazilian company.
- NutriDense: Is a higher nutritional corn plant used as a feed source. Therefore it is excellent feed for pigs, chickens and cows because you can produce the same amount of milk, meat, or eggs with a lower quantity of feed.
- AmfloraAmfloraAmflora is a genetically modified potato owned by BASF Plant Science. Amflora was approved for industrial applications in the European Union market on 2 March 2010 by the European Commission.-History:...
: Is a potato developed as a renewable resources for the European market.It is a waxy starch potato producing pure amylopectinAmylopectinAmylopectin is a soluble polysaccharide and highly branched polymer of glucose found in plants. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylose.Glucose units are linked in a linear way with α glycosidic bonds...
starch, and tailor made of industrial use. Waxy potato starchWaxy potato starchWaxy potato starch is a new species of starch only containing amylopectin molecules, extracted from new potato varieties. Standard starch extracted from traditional potato varieties contains both amylose and amylopectin....
is used in industrial procedures to make yarn stronger and paper glossier; it also makes spray concrete adheres better to the wall. Amflora was approved for release to the European market on 2 March 2010 by the European Commission.
A range of more crops are in the developing-pipeline: Maize, soy, canola, cotton.
The aim is a higher yield for farmers in the field through a higher biomass and plants that resist environmental factors such as drought or disease. In cooperation with Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
crops are developed and distributed.
- Sugar cane, sugar beat: The development of seed to produce more sugar that can be used in food or as raw material for BiofuelBiofuelBiofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
production.
- PotatoPotatoThe potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
: With the name Fortuna a potato is developed which is resistant against the disease Phytophthora infestansPhytophthora infestansPhytophthora infestans is an oomycete that causes the serious potato disease known as late blight or potato blight. . Late blight was a major culprit in the 1840s European, the 1845 Irish and 1846 Highland potato famines...
, a disease which is very difficult to handle for European agriculturists and causes today still a lot of problems.
More products are currently being developed for the food industry. Examples include plants with a higher content of Omega-3-fatty acids for preventing cardiovascular diseases and astaxanthin
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. It belongs to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenes. It is classified as a xanthophyll, which means "yellow leaves". Like many carotenoids, it is a colorful, lipid-soluble pigment. Astaxanthin is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp,...
which is used in fish farming as feed additive .