BASF
yielding crops. The reasons behind this were
made abundantly clear by the figures produced
by BASF at the conference:
• The latest UN estimate, produced in May 2007,
projects a global population of 9.2 billion by
2050.
• Increasing meat consumption in China alone
will require 22 million hectares – an area
roughly the size of the current EU cereal
production area – of arable land to produce
feed. A similar occurrence is forecast in the rest
of Asia.
• Global stocks of wheat and maize are at
all time low levels causing prices to rise
dramatically.
• The economic viability of biofuels will mean
that by 2030, 30% of global arable land will
be needed to cover 10% of the world’s oil
demand. Indeed, the EU has set a target
of biofuels accounting for 5% of its total
transportation fuels by 2010.
• Human welfare groups are placing increased
pressure on governments to solve the
starvation problems prevalent in developing
countries.
Using maize as an example, it is BASF’s belief Amflora in bloom
that it can increase the yield of maize crops
by more than 20% by the second half of the
project to achieve healthy fatty acids, such as regulatory bodies, such as the European
next decade. BASF has recently entered into
Omega-3, is under way. Though it is essential for Environment Agency (EEA) that are in place to
collaboration with Monsanto to target yield
growth and may reduce significantly the risk of ensure GM products pose no risk to humans,
and stress traits in maize, soybeans, canola
cardiovascular diseases, humans cannot produce animals or the environment. The company
and cotton. The project, which has a budget of
Omega-3 themselves and so must obtain it is also quick to fall back on the much used
US$1,500 million, is expected to have the first
from an outside source such as fish, fish oil or argument that humans have been selecting
products available in the early part of the next
algae. However, due to increasing pressures on optimum genes in crops since the dawn of
decade.
fish stocks, BASF Plant Science is developing agriculture 8,000 years ago, though many still
techniques to introduce genes for long-chain argue that there is a significant difference as,
BASF is quick, however, to state that “genetic
polyunsaturated fatty acids from algae and for the first time, we are seeing genes being
engineering will not solve all of these problems”
moss into oil-producing crops such as rapeseed actively removed, spliced and artificially inserted
but also says that “it (genetic engineering) is
and canola. The company hopes that this will into individual plants.
an important component of a comprehensive
provide an environmentally friendly and more
solution, which includes an increase in
cost-effective way of producing this essential
Fears have also been raised regarding the
agricultural productivity”.
supplement. Trials of the Omega-3 rapeseed
possibility of a similar occurrence as with the
Key issues to tackle
are currently in the greenhouse stage where
pesticide DDT in the 1960s, where the chemical
In furthering crop efficiency, BASF is also set to
BASF has had “promising results”. Cultivation is
was discovered to have carcinogenic properties
tackle fungal resistance, late blight resistance
planned for the end of the next decade.
and was suspected of being harmful to animals
and the environment. In response to this, BASF,
in potatoes a particular target. It is estimated
There are of course those who oppose BASF’s together with other industry leaders such as
that a third of the world’s harvest is lost due to
foray into the ag biotech industry. Fears Monsanto and Syngenta, have repeatedly argued
disease, plant pests or weeds each year. Late
over safety, cross-pollination and corporate that standards have dramatically increased since
blight, in particular, results in annual crop losses
domination have all been used as arguments
the 1960s and due to stringent regulations, a
of around 20% worldwide. In order to combat
against genetically modified crops and it is these
product like DDT would today not be approved
the disease, BASF started field trials in 2005
fears which BASF Plant Science is trying to calm.
for agricultural use.
in which resistance genes were introduced in
commercially grown potato varieties. When asked by attendees at the conference
The case for ag biotech
how it can guarantee sufficient safety checks,
The final target for BASF Plant Science are crops
In a final bid to promote the value of the work
BASF was quick to stress that safety is its
with a higher nutritional value. In particular, a
main concern and highlighted the numerous
being undertaken by BASF Plant Science and
www.agrow.com  •   December 2007 
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