BASF′s crop protection pipeline in good shape

Farmers are turning to products with BASF’s pipeline active ingredients to keep crops healthy and maximize yields on limited farmland. The result: The value of the company’s pipeline has received a significant boost. Since last calculated a year ago, it has increased to €2.1 billion from €1.8 billion. This year’s innovation highlights include two fungicides, one herbicide and two herbicide tolerance projects.

Pipeline active ingredients

thereof 70% achieved in 2008

New active ingredients as share of sales
Sales in million EURO

Our plant health fungicide F 500, used in products such as Headline and Opera, has been an overwhelming success in countries such as Brazil and the United States. Now we are making this landmark active ingredient available to seed companies and to growers in new markets such as Eastern Europe. Peak sales potential of F 500 has increased to €700 million from €500 million. Two label registrations – from the EPA and the Romanian regulatory authorities – confirm what farmers and BASF agronomists have seen for years: Products with F 500 not only provide great control of fungal diseases, they make plants healthier, bringing additional yield benefits of up to 10 percent.

BASF scientists are also making the cornerstone of our boscalid fruit and vegetable offering available to cereals and oilseed farmers. Boscalid’s peak sales potential is up to Euro 250 million from €200 million last year.

To meet growing demand, BASF is increasing the production capacity for these two active ingredients.

This year, products with our new blockbuster herbicide Kixor will hit the market in the United States. as well as several countries in Latin America. With its excellent performance against hard-to-control weeds in important crops, this active ingredient has annual sales potential exceeding €100 million. Kixor is expected to take on a major role in combating weeds that are resistant to glyphosate.

Two herbicide tolerant cropping solutions are also making good progress. After successful field trials, our herbicide tolerance solution for farmers in Latin America has been submitted for registration in Brazil. In addition, BASF scientists are developing new dicamba formulations for next generation two-trait herbicide tolerant seeds.