Biotech Updates

BASF and KWS SAAT AG Collaborate on Biotech Sugarbeet

January 22, 2010

BASF Plant Science and KWS SAAT AG will collaborate on a long-term project aimed at developing sugar beet varieties for the global market with higher sugar and energy yields as well as greater drought tolerance.

"This step will help strengthen our position on the global market. We are aiming for increased yields of 15%, which will make the cultivation of sugar beet considerably more competitive and enable farmers to enjoy further cost benefits. As a result, yields of 20 tons of sugar per hectare will become standard," said Dr. Peter Hofmann, Head of the Sugar Beet Division at KWS, a global plant breeding company.

See BASF's press release at http://www.basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-10-124