Agriculture

Innovations in Seed & Trait Technology

Farmers need a seed partner with the expertise to focus on the now, while shaping new possibilities for the future. We believe in connecting the best and brightest across the industry to continuously deliver for farmers today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Our pipeline of innovations focuses on improving outcomes in major crops, including wheat, canola, soybean, corn, cotton, and rice. We're committed to delivering high-yield germplasm and innovative trait products that address farmers' current and future needs.

Delivering innovative solutions to prepare growers for future success.

Soybeans

Healthy soybean crop with sun shining from behind

Herbicide tolerance (HT) trait advancements

BASF is bringing a much-needed solution for over-the-top control of weeds in soybean, developing an additional protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) herbicide with a corresponding herbicide tolerance gene. That gene will be incorporated into a new herbicide tolerance trait stack developed by Corteva. It is a key element of a multi-generational soybean trait pipeline collaboration that is expected to be available in seed varieties in the early 2030s. Farmers will benefit from more flexibility to use PPO herbicides beyond pre-emergence to control weeds with over-the-top application.

To further support resistance management, an entirely new herbicide mode of action is currently in the late research phase at BASF. The corresponding herbicide tolerance trait for soybean is being developed by BASF as part of the collaboration with Corteva. Farmers will have the option to access this innovative trait technology through leading soybean seeds from BASF and Corteva. This longer-term approach from both companies will provide competitive alternatives for soybean farmers well into the 2040s.

Forceps inspecting a small plant sprout close up in a petri dish

Nemasphere™ Nematode Resistance Trait

BASF is revolutionizing nematode management with the first and only biotechnology trait to fight back against the devastating damage caused by soybean cyst nematodes (SCN), the number one yield-robbing pest in soybeans in North America. With the effectiveness of native traits declining, this nematode resistant soybean trait by BASF will be the most significant breakthrough in this fight in North America in over 60 years.

Featuring a completely novel mode of action, Nemasphere Nematode Resistance Trait will be stacked with native traits to take back the yield that soybean cyst nematodes are silently stealing by attacking roots below ground. No matter a farmer’s nematode count, Nemasphere will help deliver a yield boost above and beyond native resistance.

This trait will launch in combination with the Enlist^® E3 system, the top herbicide tolerant platform on the soybean market. Nemasphere Nematode Resistance Trait by BASF is expected to be in the hands of farmers late this decade in North America, subject to regulatory approval.

Cotton

Herbicide tolerance (HT) trait advancements in cotton

With Axant^™ Flex technology, BASF will continue to provide North American cotton growers with more weed control options including tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba, as well as 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) – pending regulatory approval. In Brazil, BASF will offer a similar trait stack for cotton growers with tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate, and HPPD. Anticipated timing of introduction for both innovations will be mid-decade.

Corn

Development of Short Stature Corn

In collaboration with Bayer, BASF is developing short stature corn (SSC) by utilizing a transgene to shorten internodes that enable applicability across a wide array of germplasm. Benefits include reduced crop loss enabled by improved plant stability and lodging tolerance, precise crop input applications due to extended in-season crop access and increased environmental sustainability from optimized use of nutrients, land and water. Anticipated timing of introduction for the innovation will be late-decade.

Canola

Yellow-seeded canola hybrid

Later this decade, BASF plans to introduce yellow-seeded canola which can be grown under more challenging conditions and will provide new rotation options for growers in hotter, drier areas of North America, where traditional canola does not perform well.

Close up of canola flowers in canola field

Pod shatter and clubroot resistant canola

BASF is advancing our pod shatter resistance offerings, expanding our clubroot protection technology across the entire InVigor^® portfolio, and providing additional disease resistance traits in global markets.

Wheat

Unlocking the full potential of wheat through Ideltis^® hybrid wheat

To bring this much needed innovation to market, BASF utilizes diverse germplasm and genetics from key European wheat-growing regions to develop leading hybrids with value-added traits, such as increased yield, quality, and disease and insect resistance, that address specific local needs and conditions. Anticipated timing of introduction will be at the end of the decade.

How we deliver real solutions for farmers worldwide

Trait Research

Discovering genes from plants & microbiome and engineering for plant expression

Trait Development

Screening GM & non-GM traits for development of elite events for commercialization

Breeding

Developing improved varieties and hybrids incorporating value-added GM & native traits into elite germplasm

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