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Topics on this page:
Plant biotechnology at BASF Plant Science GmbH
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Biocatalysis – a growing market
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Using biotechnology responsibly
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Innovative biotechnology at BASF
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Contacts
BASF sees biotechnology and genetic engineering as key technologies in the 21st century. They allow numerous innovations that are either difficult or impossible to achieve by conventional means. Through the responsible application of biotechnology, BASF is expanding its leading role with products in the areas of agriculture and nutrition.
As Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, Board member and Research Executive Director at BASF, stresses: "Whether or not a technology is applied depends on its potential to generate products, procedures and solutions that meet the needs and wishes of our customers and that are also interesting from an entrepreneurial point of view. Biotechnology offers this opportunity."
BASF uses biotechnology in those areas where it is a logical development of the company’s broad competence in chemistry and where it can contribute to profitable growth through innovation. The company is concentrating on plants with improved cultivation properties and constituents as well as the manufacture of new products using white biotechnology processes, such as enzymes and chiral intermediates. In 2006, BASF posted sales of around €350 million from products manufactured entirely or partially using biotechnological processes.
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Plant biotechnology at BASF Plant Science GmbH
In the area of plant biotechnology the BASF Plant Science's research activities focus on solutions for effective agriculture, healthier nutrition and plants for use as renewable resources. One of our aims is to improve the cultivation characteristics of crops. In 2003, we succeeded in identifying genes that allow the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to withstand periods of drought. In a second step, this drought resistance will now be transferred to crops such as corn (maize), soybeans or wheat.
BASF Plant Science is an international Research and Technology Verbund with eight sites in Europe and North America. In addition to this, there is a wealth of cooperation with research institutes, universities and biotechnology companies. BASF Plant Science currently has more than 600 members of staff.
Dr. Hans Kast, President and CEO of BASF Plant Science GmbH explains the company's ambitious goal: "By 2010, BASF wants to be one of the world's leading companies in the area of plant biotechnology." The first genetically modified plants from BASF are expected to be ready for the market by 2005. The partnership with the Swedish seed breeding company Svalöf Weibull guarantees good market access for products from BASF Plant Science.
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Biocatalysis – a growing market
BASF has almost three decades of experience in the field of white biotechnology - also known as industrial biotechnology. These activities are devoted to manufacturing products such as enzymes and chiral intermediates with the aid of microorganisms (fermentation) or isolated enzymes (biocatalysis). As Professor Bernhard Hauer, head of biocatalysis research at BASF, explains: "Biotechnology is an economically attractive field of business because the products - which include products for human and animal nutrition and raw materials for crop protection and pharmaceutical products - are manufactured with efficient use of resources." Biotechnology is expected to achieve growth rates well above those of the chemical industry.
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Using biotechnology responsibly
BASF takes its social responsibility seriously and carefully considers the possible risks and concerns that have been expressed with regard to biotechnology. Since its foundation in 1865, BASF has established a high level of trust in the world of politics and in society as a whole through the responsible application of new technologies.
BASF’s commitment to biotechnology is in accordance with the Core Ethical Values of the European Biotechnology Association, Europa-Bio. The company’s activities are subject to the principles of openness and transparency. BASF participates actively in the public debate and explain in good time – i.e., in the development phase – the benefits of the processes it uses and the benefits of its products for consumers, customers and the environment.
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Innovative biotechnology at BASF
Phytase (NatuphosTM)
It is only recently that enzymes are being used in animal nutrition. In pigs and poultry, phytase – the largest feed enzyme – reduces the excretion of phosphorus with the manure by about 30%. Thus, the release of phosphorus into soils and water (eutrophication) is significantly reduced. Apart from the environmental benefits though, the use of Natuphos also provides significant economic advantages for animal raisers, because it improves the utilisation of feed. As a consequence phytase – produced by fermentation with the fungus Aspergillus niger – has experienced strong demand growth since the market launch in 1996. Today, BASF’s Natuphos has become the leading feed enzyme used throughout every region of the world.
ChiProsTM production
Chiral intermediates are primarily used as building blocks or reactants in the production of active ingredients for pharmaceuticals and crop protection products. Researchers at BASF have succeeded in developing chemoenzymatic processes for chiral amines, alcohols, epoxides and acids. Three production plants that use this technology have now started operations with a total annual capacity of over 4,000 metric tons.
metanomics
Research into the plant genome is an important basis for developing processes to optimize crop plants by means of genetic engineering. The company metanomics, which was founded in 1998 with leading representatives of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Golm near Potsdam, carries out functional genome research. The company’s 90 employees want to use a new method of analysis to allocate a specific metabolic function to almost all of the approximately 25,000 genes of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (commonly known as mouse-ear cress or thale cress). This will make it possible to identify key genes that can specifically modify certain properties in crop plants. Patent applications have already been filed for the first key genes. Metanomics is part of BASF Plant Science’s Research Verbund.
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