BASF China unveils newly integrated agricultural solutions division
BASF China integrated its new Agricultural Solutions division today, which aims to help customers have "access to even more tools to increase their yields, crop quality and profitability," the head of the division said.
The division was expanded from BASF's Crop Protection division after the company acquired Bayer’s agricultural businesses and assets. for 7.6 billion euros (US$8.9 billion). The acquired business generated sales of 2.2 billion euros in 2017. The company expects research and development spending on agriculture to hit 40 percent the total R&D expenditure.
Following the acquisition, the Agricultural Solutions division focuses on seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming.
“With strong solutions from seeds to harvest, enabled by even better R&D capabilities and scale, we will increase the competition in the market," said Markus Heldt, president of BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division. "Customers will also benefit from the acquisition as they will have access to even more tools to increase their yields, crop quality and profitability.”
The division is one of BASF's five business segments together with Chemicals division, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, and Oil & Gas.