BASF opens new R&D centre for agricultural research in Pune

BASF has opened a new research and development (R&D) centre - Agricultural Research Station - in Loni Kand, Pune (Maharashtra), to focus on global agricultural research on herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, as well as on solutions that go beyond classical crop protection. The facility will employ new experts, including biologists, farm managers, and workers.
 
In addition to conducting research in areas of global agricultural interest, the R&D centre will also investigate scenarios that are unique to India. These include challenges such as India’s specific weeds and pests, as well as climate stresses, like drought, flood cycles, and heat stress. Through its extensive research efforts, the R&D centre aims to help farmers make better decisions and improve productivity during the entire cultivation cycle.
 
“Raising agriculture productivity to meet the increasing demand for quality and quantity of food, is one of the most important challenges facing our country. By setting up a new R&D centre in India, BASF aims to actively look into both local and global topics and develop sustainable solutions to help farmers to solve their challenges and improve food output to feed the growing population in India,” said Raman Ramachandran, chairman and managing director, BASF India Ltd and Head of BASF South Asia.
 
Pune has been chosen as the site for the research centre because of its ideal location in the southern Indian climate zone. The close proximity to local universities and research institutions makes it possible to generate synergies and promote collaboration in order to build a strong ecosystem that can further boost the agricultural sector.
 
The centre will contribute to tailor-made solutions for India’s agriculture while moving towards BASF’s strategic goal to innovate from Asia Pacific, for Asia Pacific and the world. “Our role is to partner with farmers and to work with them to protect the land they hold in trust for future generations and to meet the evolving expectations of society. The team in India will contribute to these goals by driving the development of new active ingredients, new formulations, and technologies,” said Markus Heldt, president of BASF’s Crop Protection Division.
 
In 2014, BASF announced breaking ground for its innovation campus in Mumbai via BASF Chemicals India Private Limited, a 100% subsidiary of BASF SE, which will also do research in the area of crop protection with Indian talents and local expertise. Both the innovation campus and the new Agricultural Research Station are integral components of BASF’ global innovation network. The two R&D facilities will share intelligence and research findings, and generate synergies while developing new crop protection solutions.
 
Pune will become BASF’s fifth Agricultural Research Station, in addition to those already in Brazil, Spain, Germany, and the Philippines. In total, BASF spends more than Euro 500 million annually on global agricultural R&D showing its commitment to bring sustainable solutions to the agricultural market.