Newly Opened BASF Center In RTP Focuses on Sustainable Agriculture’s Impact

A 5,500-square-foot center dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture is now open to the public in the heart of the Research Triangle.

This week, German-owned multinational chemical company BASF Corporation officially launched its new Center for Sustainable Agriculture on its Morrisville campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Attendees, including farmers, agriculture industry stakeholders, elected officials, community partners, and BASF executives, engaged with the Center’s interactive exhibits. Among them are displays highlighting BASF’s initiatives in the areas of sustainability and biodiversity; food, fuel, and fiber; agricultural technology; and pest control.

Attendees also toured the newly renovated gardens that include more than 100 species of plants, trees, and shrubs.

“Farming is the biggest job on earth, and it’s getting bigger and more complex,” said Paul Rea, senior vice president, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “Farmers are working to reduce their impact on the planet with an eye on leaving things better for the next generation. The Center showcases technologies and solutions that find the right balance – for farmers, agriculture and future generations, while making tremendous strides to increase productivity and resiliency in an ever-changing world.”

Agriculture is North Carolina's number-one industry. According to data from North Carolina State University, farming, forestry and fiber generated more than $90 billion in 2019. Soybean, corn and peanuts are major crops in North Carolina.

Rea said the Center is a place where farmers, consumers, and anyone with questions about agriculture can go for “information, conversation, and to increase their knowledge on topics that are driving sustainable agriculture forward.”

It also aims to give a voice to farmers, Rea said.

“The world is putting more pressure on our farmers, and they’re not getting as much support as they need to meet the demands and the challenges they face on a daily basis,” said Rea. “The Center for Sustainable Agriculture demonstrates that we’re at the forefront of providing farmers with some much-needed support. It also will help us to amplify their voices within and outside of our agricultural food system.”

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,700 employees in North America and had sales of $25.9 billion in 2021.

For additional information about the BASF Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and to schedule an individual tour or group outing, visit center-for-sustainable-ag.com.