Basf and Cofco Tunhe Work Together for Sustainable Tomato Production in China

• Develop integrated solutions to meet needs across the food value chain
• BASF sustainability expertise and newly established unit Functional Crop Care enrich cooperation
• Initial focus on AgCelence ^® products

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY -- February 8, 2012 – BASF and COFCO Tunhe, one of the world’s largest tomato producers and processors headquartered in Beijing, China, have entered a strategic cooperation to develop and enhance sustainable tomato cultivation in China. The main goal is to design a production system that addresses needs throughout the food value chain. The two companies have begun to analyze the challenges that local tomato growers face in China and to match these to the demands of end-consumer food producers in export markets .

Both companies have agreed to work together to help Chinese growers improve tomato quality, increase yield and manage cropping risk. BASF will rely on its experience in agricultural sustainability to deliver tailored, integrated solutions that combine crop protection technology, agricultural services and solutions for stress and resource management.

“The collaboration with a high-quality tomato producer such as COFCO Tunhe gives us the chance to deepen our sustainability expertise and co-develop first products from our newly established Functional Crop Care unit, which focuses on stress and resource management in crops. More importantly, these solutions will benefit local farmers and COFCO Tunhe in meeting end-consumer demands” says Cedric Dieleman, Project Leader in Global Marketing at BASF.

The cooperation will initially focus on tailored solutions with AgCelence benefits. AgCelence-brand products provide farmer benefits beyond regular crop protection by increasing the health and fitness of plants. Together with tomato farmers, BASF and COFCO Tunhe will conduct field trials in the Xinjiang province in China. AgCelence has already shown quality and sustainability improvements in tomato farming in several countries around the world. “Farmers in China and the tomato value chain world-wide will benefit from better plant growth, greater stress tolerance, improved tomato quality including higher sugar content and increased yields.” says Tracy Wu, Head of BASF Crop Protection in China.

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of € 4.0 billion in 2010, BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Crop Protection division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/basfagro .

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about € 63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109 ,000 employees as of the end of 2010. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com .