How can farmers achieve sustainability? That question is at the center of the 2010 Agricultural Solutions Media Summit, wrapping up today in Chicago.
At the summit, BASF announced an extensive new project to further develop its Eco-Efficiency Analysis and incorporate agriculturally relevant factors such as biodiversity, soil health and social impact. The Eco-Efficiency Analysis was developed by BASF to measure the sustainability of products and production processes and is one of BASF’s main tools for implementing its sustainability strategy.
The Eco-Efficiency Analysis enables a comparison of the economic and environmental aspects of products and processes. Importantly, the methodology takes the product’s entire life cycle into account, from raw materials sourcing, to product manufacture, use, and disposal.
In the photo: Markus Heldt, president of BASF Crop Protection, Dr. Peter Eckes, president of BASF Plant Science Company, Nevin McDougall, senior vice president of North America Crop Protection and Dr. Jonathan Bryant, vice president of BASF Plant Science, L.P., at the 2010 BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit.
Here are a few of the points touched on during the announcement:
- BASF has now completed the first Eco-Efficiency Analysis for corn, a major feedstock crop that is of central importance for farmers and food supply.
- Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, presented the results: “We analyzed corn production both with and without our fungicide Headline®. The most important result was that farmers achieved higher yields with Headline. However, in addition, they were also able to reduce costs, energy use and resources. In other words, corn farmers can earn more with Headline and protect the environment at the same time.”
- Dr. Peter Eckes, President of BASF Plant Science, agrees that higher yields are a significant factor in improving agricultural sustainability: “That is precisely why we examine the genetic characteristics of crops very closely. We don’t just look at the outwardly visible properties – we also investigate which specific genes are involved in each plant function. By using the best genes, we can maximize harvests and thus support farmers to become more sustainable. This also benefits the environment because no additional arable land is needed to achieve higher yields.”
Visit these links to learn more about the BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit, access the recorded general session and the Eco-Efficiency Analysis online.
