September 13, 2006

 

BASF opens corn research facility in Corn Capital

 

 

BASF last week opened its latest research facility in the city of Olivia, which bills itself as the "corn capital of the world". 

 

With a population of just 2,520, the city is home to one of the world's largest concentrations of seed research and production companies because of its rich soil and ideal climate.

 

BASF said Olivia seems to be the logical choice for the company to launch its new genetic breed of corn, as it is located in the northern Corn Belt.
 
BASF Plant Science's new facilities occupies five buildings and cost US$3 million.

 

Dr. Hans Kast, president and CEO of BASF Plant Science said the research and production developments from the facility would produce fiber, re-newable energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to would help feed the growing world population.

 

The new Olivia based facility would specialize in corn breeding research and marketing.

 

The Olivia BASF Plant Science operation is just one node in BASF's extensive network of breeding and research facilities. The German company has operations globally, with most concentrated in Europe, United States and Canada.

 

BASF is the world's largest chemical company with involvement in a host of other industries with a total of US$50.4 billion in sales last year and 94,000 employees.

 

However, BASF is shifting more of its focus towards biotechnology, and to back its words with action, it has pumped in US$350 million in this sector.

 

The day is approaching when factories would not be in buildings but in fields, Kast ambitiously said. These "green factories" would be the source of chemicals, enzymes, renewable fuels and chemicals, he added.

 

Kast said it is important to improve yields, farm efficiency and market conditions to fully utilise these new technologies.

 

However, getting consumers to adapt to these changes would take more education, he said, using the EU as a reference where there is still staunch resistance to GM products.