BASF Considers Another Major Seed Purchase

BASF Considers Another Major Seed Purchase

Bayer is selling its entire vegetable seeds business—and BASF is contemplating yet another seed purchase. Operating under the global name Nunhems, Bayer is selling the vegetable seeds business to appease European Union (EU) concerns over its pending acquisition of Monsanto. Bayer recently stated it’s in exclusive talks with BASF for the transaction.

BASF has already purchased the LibertyLink platform, including traits and herbicides, as well as the field crop seed businesses and research and development capabilities from Bayer. The field crop seed business purchase specifically includes:

  • Global cottonseed (excluding India and South Africa)
  • Oilseed rape and canola business in North America and Europe
  • Soybean seed business (including Credenz brand soybeans and upcoming HPPD-tolerant technologies)

If the vegetable business deal goes through, this marks another notable step for BASF into the seeds business.

“At this stage, no definitive agreements have been concluded,” BASF said in a statement provided to AgWeb. Any deal would depend on Bayer’s successful closure of the Monsanto acquisition.

The EU recently extended its examination of the Bayer-Monsanto deal until April 5. Bayer expects the deal to close in the second quarter of 2018.

 

Latest News

Where Did All the Corn Acres and Principal Crop Acres Go? The Two Biggest Questions from USDA's Big Prospective Plantings Report
Where Did All the Corn Acres and Principal Crop Acres Go? The Two Biggest Questions from USDA's Big Prospective Plantings Report

USDA says farmers intend to plant 90 million acres of corn this year, which is lower than the trade expected prior to USDA's big Prospective Plantings report.

Vestaron and Simplot Announce Distribution Agreement
Vestaron and Simplot Announce Distribution Agreement

The distribution agreement focuses on Vestaron’s Spear Lep insecticide, which is a peptide-based control method meant to provide growers with a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemicals.

The Scoop Podcast: How To Gear Up For Carbon And Sustainability Programs
The Scoop Podcast: How To Gear Up For Carbon And Sustainability Programs

Tim Hushon, sustainability and technology director at The Mill, details how sustainability factors into their ag retail business and how to partner with farmers on the technology adoption required.

Two Crop Protection Partners Divest Postharvest Solutions Company
Two Crop Protection Partners Divest Postharvest Solutions Company

Sumitomo Chemical and Valent BioSciences have announced Pace International will become part of AgroFresh Solutions.

The Untold Farmer Stories Of Ukraine: Q&A With Howard Buffett
The Untold Farmer Stories Of Ukraine: Q&A With Howard Buffett

Farmer and philanthropist Howard Buffett held a fireside chat during the 2024 Top Producer Summit to share his experiences visiting the front line of Ukraine over the past two years.

Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Now that the mystery illness impacting some dairy herds has been revealed as the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that has been impacting the U.S. poultry flock, pork producers are asking questions.