Ask most growers what sustainability means to them and you’ll likely hear the word “legacy.” It’s about keeping their land and operation healthy for the next generation and those who follow. BASF U.S. Agricultural Solutions is built on a strong commitment to helping them achieve those goals. Through investment in innovation, BASF strives to ensure that those involved with the Biggest Job on Earth — from growers to retailers — can continue successfully protecting their environmental and operational resources.
Achieving this goal begins with striking the right balance between what’s best for today and what’s right for tomorrow by prioritizing the needs of farmers, their communities and their networks, including retailers.
“We look at sustainability as creating resilience for the future,” says Ray Daniels, sustainability market development manager, BASF U.S. Agricultural Solutions. “We want to ensure that the science can deliver on sustainability claims for our products in a credible and verifiable way.”
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS
BASF programs such as e3® Sustainable Cotton are designed to blend the goals of environmental and operational longevity to support a bright future. Retailers can guide farmers to enroll in the e3 Sustainable Cotton program by recommending the purchase of FiberMax® or Stoneville® cottonseed. Growers who choose these high-quality brands can use the program — the first transparent and traceable cotton supply chain — to document their sustainable and regenerative practices, which boosts the value of their ginned cotton further down the supply chain.
“We’re seeing incentives coming into the market to foster increased adoption of sustainable practices, and value chain members are beginning to pay for it,” Daniels says. “We’re helping farmers meet those requirements and track and trace that. Retailers can help farmers participate in some of these programs.”
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
Farmers overwhelmingly look to manufacturers to provide tools to get the job done, but when surveyed, advocacy and consumer education were also at the top of the list of desired support. With this information, the BASF Center for Sustainable Agriculture was created and opened in April 2022 to do just that.
“All the events, all the visitors, all the material and content we develop here at the Center is grounded in the goals of advocating for farmers and educating consumers,” says Kate Nangle, the Center’s manager. “ The Center’s mission is to engage a broad audience on sustainable agriculture and the important role that farming plays in food, feed, fuel and fiber production.”
Located on BASF’s campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, the Center is open to everyone by appointment and uses interactive displays and experiences to engage visitors on various subjects, from sustainable farming practices to biodiversity to the latest advances in agricultural technology. It also hosts panel discussions featuring educators, policymakers and industry experts. The Center features an extensive outdoor garden with over 100 species of trees, plants and shrubs.
In its first full year, the Center welcomed over 2,500 visitors and held more than 130 events. With students from local middle schools, high schools and universities touring the Center, it’s no surprise that educators have asked for help supporting curricula around careers in agriculture. Nangle says, “We have a career bingo game in partnership with our recruiting group just to raise awareness about all the careers that support agriculture.”
NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION
Advocating for the people doing the Biggest Job on Earth is integral to BASF’s mission. It’s also essential to help find the people who will do this job in the future. Feeding a growing world will require new talents in an expansive array of fields, from farming and agronomy to data analysis and technology.
Along with the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, BASF has also developed programs specifically focused on young people, such as BASF Safety Scouts. Targeting ages three and older, this fun, interactive program teaches kids about farm safety, giving them a role to play in making their family farms safer.
Whether by creating products that protect soil and crops, promoting sustainability practices, building support from the general public or educating a new generation for careers in the industry, BASF will continue its advocacy and work to build a brighter future for farmers and the retailers who serve them.
