BASF Plant Science is a
subsidiary of
BASF in which all plant
biotechnology activities are consolidated. The company was founded in 1998 and employs approximately 700 people at 6 different locations worldwide.[1] The headquarters of BASF Plant Science is located in
Research Triangle Park (North Carolina, US) and has research sites in the US, Canada, and Europe. The company mainly develops
genetically modified seeds at these locations.[1]
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Amflora potatoes, trial planting in Sweden 2008
As of 2011, BASF Plant Science has developed three products:
Amflora, a potato developed initially for the European market, producing pure
amylopectin starch for industrial use.
Waxy potato starch is used in industrial procedures to make yarn stronger and paper glossier; it also makes spray concrete adhere better to walls.[6] Due to lack of acceptance of GM crops in Europe, in 2012 BASF Plant Science decided to stop its commercialization and research activities on the European potato varieties Amflora and Fortuna. Further it announced the relocation of the corporate headquarters from Germany to the USA.[7][8]
Cultivance is an
herbicide resistant soybean. It received market permission from Brazil in 2010. Marketing and sales of Cultivance are through Embrapa, a Brazilian company.[4]
NutriDense is a higher
nutritional maize plant used as a feed source for pigs, chickens, and cows.[9]
A range of more crops are in the pipeline:
Maize, soy, canola, and cotton: The aim is higher biomass, and plants that better resist environmental factors such as drought or disease. These crops are developed on the island of
Kauai in Hawaii and are distributed in cooperation with
Monsanto.[10]
Sugarcane, sugar beet: The aim is to develop plants that produce more
sugar for use in food or as raw material for
biofuel production.[11]
Fortuna Potato: developed for resistance against Phytophthora infestans, a disease which is difficult to combat for European agriculturists.[12]