BASF puts new caps on – First crop protection products enabling the use of the new easyconnect Closed Transfer System (CTS) available for European farmers
- BASF starts to convert product packaging in Europe to enable use of easyconnect Closed Transfer System
- First products with easyconnect caps are currently bottled for farmers in France, Germany and the Netherlands
- Strong contribution to the EU Green Deal target to better protect people and the environment
Limburgerhof, Germany; December 7, 2022 – BASF Agricultural Solutions has started to convert its product packaging for liquid crop protection products in first European countries to enable the use of the easyconnect Closed Transfer System (CTS). This poses a milestone in agriculture, as CTS are the new generation of filling methods that will make farm operations even safer for users and the environment.
The easyconnect system consists of two components: the easyconnect cap, that comes pre-fitted on the product containers and the easyconnect coupler, that supports the safe and drip-free filling of the spray tank. Together they establish the CTS that provides farmers with a compelling combination of increased safety and great convenience when filling the spray tanks.
Robert Huber, European Project Lead for easyconnect at BASF Agricultural Solutions, explains: “The new caps play a key role as their special design is needed in order to be compatible with the coupler. The application of the new caps allows farmers to use the CTS and work quickly and conveniently without adapters. We aim to rapidly expand the product portfolio equipped with them. As CTS will become mandatory in the Netherlands from 2024, Dutch farmers are at the top of our priority list. However, we are currently also bottling the first products for the French and German market. They will be available at retailers for the spring season 2023. Other countries will also be supplied, with the UK and Denmark prioritized as further pilot countries.”
BASF developed easyconnect in collaboration with third-party equipment manufacturers and joined forces with other agricultural industry players as of 2019 to further improve and extensively test the CTS under real conditions on pilot farms across Europe.
Today, the easyconnect system is supported by a large number of crop protection manufacturers including all corporate members of the European crop protection association CropLife Europe.
“With so many easyconnect supporters, we can offer farmers a broad choice of products from many different manufacturers that will be compatible with the easyconnect system. We believe this is one of the essential benefits of easyconnect,” explains Juan Sasturain, Manager Product Stewardship Strategies at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “We are fully on track to meet CropLife Europe’s commitment to make CTS available to all European farmers by 2030, contributing to the EU Green Deal’s target to protect people and the environment. But above all, we do not keep it to ourselves. The easyconnect system is an open technology that is available to all interested ag parties, be it crop protection or equipment manufacturers. We believe that the more products are compatible with the same CTS, the easier it will be for farmers to switch to CTS.”
For more information about the easyconnect CTS, please visit easyconnect website.
For more information about BASF’s sustainable solutions for agriculture, please visit our website.
About easyconnect
easyconnect is a closed transfer system (CTS) for liquid crop protection products that consists of two components: a unique cap – pre-fitted on the containers – and a coupler. It makes filling the sprayer faster, easier and safer than conventional methods. Developed by BASF in collaboration with third-party equipment manufacturers, easyconnect is accessible to all interested parties in the market. The easyconnect Working Group consists of interested companies that are each piloting easyconnect in selected countries. As of October 2022, they are ADAMA, BASF, Bayer, Belchim Crop Protection, Certis Europe, Corteva Agriscience, FMC Corporation, Globachem, Nufarm, Rovensa Group, Sumitomo, Syngenta and UPL Europe.
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.
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