GERMANY- BASF SE, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, has announced a substantial investment in a state-of-the-art fermentation plant for the production of biological and biotechnology-based crop protection products.
This move is part of BASF’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for sustainable agricultural solutions.
The new plant will be situated at their Ludwigshafen site and is expected to bolster their portfolio by manufacturing biological fungicides, biological seed treatments, and the foundational component of Inscalis, an innovative insecticide derived from a fungal strain.
The investment, reaching a high double-digit million euros, underscores BASF’s dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture and harnessing biotechnology to drive forward ecological solutions.
The plant is scheduled to commence operations in the second half of 2025 and is anticipated to create employment opportunities for approximately 30 individuals across production, logistics, engineering, and maintenance roles.
The fermentation plant will utilize microorganisms to transform renewable raw materials like glucose into valuable end products, following the fermentation process—a technique that aligns with sustainable manufacturing practices. This process emphasizes the efficient utilization of resources while reducing the environmental impact.
Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions, emphasized the company’s focus on meeting the escalating demand for biological crop protection products.
“We see a growing demand for biological crop protection products. This investment is an important step in building an even stronger and more competitive portfolio in this area,” he stated.
Furthermore, the fermentation process offers significant flexibility, allowing for the production of innovative biotechnology-derived products to cater to evolving market needs. BASF aims to capitalize on this flexibility to bring forth a range of pioneering solutions.
Christian Aucoin, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at BASF Agricultural Solutions, highlighted the company’s drive toward innovative and sustainable manufacturing processes, characterized by reduced energy intensity and reliance on renewable raw materials.
“For production at our Ludwigshafen site, this development is another step in the transition to innovative manufacturing processes with lower energy intensity based on renewable raw materials,” Aucoin emphasized.
The Ludwigshafen site’s strategic advantages, including excellent infrastructure, integration into a high-performance production organization, and proximity to research units such as White Biotechnology, reinforce the decision to establish the fermentation plant at this location.
BASF remains committed to enhancing sustainable agricultural solutions through technology, innovation, and strategic investments.
