April 23, 2007

BASF expands GM corn operations

BASF Plant Science will expand its breeding and testing operations through its three new facilities focusing on developing elite nutritionally enhanced corn genetics.

An existing facility in Weldon, Illinois was purchased for yield trials and breeding while another existing facility in Estherville, Iowa was purchased to grow yield trials. 

The Hawaii facility, on the island of Kauai, is used as a continuous nursery. Corn harvested in the Midwest will be shipped to Hawaii for planting in November and the harvested seed will be returned again to the Midwest for spring planting. This will speed up development time by allowing BASF to grow two or more generations of a crop in one year.

BASF Plant Science now has seven stations focused on developing elite nutritionally enhanced corn genetics.

Corn hybrids developed by BASF are currently marketed as NutriDense, a corn designed to enhance animal feed performance.