BASF to focus on North, South America in plant biotechnology; closes down EU efforts

In Germany, BASF announced that they are concentrating their plant biotechnology activities on the main markets in North and South America.  The headquarters of BASF Plant Science will be moved from Limburgerhof, Germany, to Raleigh, North Carolina. Research and development activities will be concentrated mainly in Raleigh, Ghent, Belgium and Berlin, Germany.

Development and commercialization of all products targeted solely at cultivation in the European market will be halted. Regulatory approval processes which have already started will be continued.  BASF cited European lack of acceptance of plant biotechnology as driving the change.