Sustainability Starts in Research

Today, together with six scientists, I presented solutions for sustainable mobility and agriculture at our research press conference underlining that sustainability starts in research.

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and we must not lose time. Quick and decisive action is the only way to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. We are aware of our responsibility and we are ready to do our part.

The chemical industry plays a central role in the transformation towards a climate-neutral society

Chemical production is highly energy and CO2-intensive. Transforming our industry to become carbon-neutral while remaining competitive is a huge challenge. Yet our ambition is clear: We want to become climate-neutral by 2050.

To this end, we are working on new, low-emission production technologies and processes. And we have made great technological progress, for example regarding methane pyrolysis, a key technology to produce CO2-free hydrogen. Our experts have achieved a milestone by running trials in our test plant at the Ludwigshafen site. We are convinced that this technology will contribute to reduce our CO2 emissions and be economically viable. Our goal is to bring methane pyrolysis to commercial scale before 2030.?

At the same time, society needs our products and innovations more than ever. There would be no electric cars without innovative battery materials, no energy-efficient living without modern insulation materials, no wind turbines or solar panels without chemical components. Finally, chemical products are indispensable in pharmaceuticals or agriculture.

Let’s dive deeper into two industries in which BASF innovations can greatly contribute to the sustainability transformation: transportation and agriculture.

BASF innovations enable electric mobility

The battery is the heart of every electric vehicle and the key determining factor for its performance. The cathode active material we supply to the automotive industry is the key material for driving the desired properties of a battery.

Furthermore, plastics are indispensable for e-mobility. BASF plastic solutions support lightweight construction, thermal management and passenger safety.

We also have a new coolant on offer that enables a high-quality thermal management while reducing the risk of hydrogen formation in the event of a crash. Lowering the electrical conductivity of the coolant is the key to success here.

Another field of innovation is corrosion protection. With the help of digital simulations, we have developed a cathodic dip coating tailored to the specifications of electric vehicles. It protects the car body from corrosion and at the same time allows car manufacturers to lower CO2 emissions in production.

Agriculture depends on innovations that protect the environment and secure yields

We are also working on solutions for sustainable agriculture. Farmers are facing major challenges: feeding a growing world population that will reach 10 billion by 2050, changing weather conditions due to climate change, safe and effective pest and weed control amid increasing resistance as well as limited natural resources and arable land. Our innovations – ranging from new seeds and traits to novel crop protection products and digital applications – are therefore urgently needed.

Let’s have a look at seeds. Wheat is one of the world’s most important grains, with a volume of over 770 million metric tons per year. Wheat yield must be increased significantly in the coming years. This goal will be harder to reach because of limited arable land and crop failures caused by climate change. Through a breeding program, BASF develops new hybrid wheat with value-added traits for increased yield and quality as well as disease and insect resistance.

Changes to research design – shifting from sequential to parallel research – also represent a trail-blazing approach for sustainable innovations. With this methodology, products and applications are developed holistically from the very beginning and sustainability aspects are taken into account in the early R&D stages. For example, BASF successfully developed a new fungicide in this way.

Digital technologies enable farmers to further increase their productivity and the efficiency of resources in their day-to-day work. To optimize crop production, BASF has developed a plant modeling platform that delivers precise agronomic recommendations based on continual data analysis for efficient and environmentally sound crop cultivation.

BASF’s R&D team is committed to helping our customers become more sustainable

We have to master tremendous challenges simultaneously. Together with our customers and partners, we are working resolutely and systematically to make climate neutrality a reality. We do this with entrepreneurial courage and a strong innovative power – and with a great team in research and development. This makes me very optimistic.

Interested to learn more? You can find all relevant materials, including a replay, here: https://basf.com/research-press-conference