After more than 20 years of downturn, the global food market has entered an era of price increases. In this context, farmers will be willing to invest in the fields to produce more food than ever before. Based on this understanding, the chemical giant BASF has shifted its investment and R&D focus to biotechnology, and even formed alliances with rival Monsanto, hoping to grab market opportunities in the agrochemical sector.
R&D focus shifted to agrochemicals
During the downturn of agricultural product prices, farmers purchase agricultural chemicals mainly to control production costs within an acceptable range. Therefore, they often choose low-priced products when buying herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides rather than buying products that guarantee better yields. But now the situation is completely different. With the rise in food prices, farmers everywhere have begun to find ways to increase food production. In response to this market change, BASF began to expand the scale of plant protection business, continuously introduced new pesticide products and new dosage forms, and entered the field of genetically modified seeds.
"This is really an era when the agricultural sector and BASF are thrilled," said Michael Hohnz, president of the BASF Plant Protection Department, in a media briefing in Washington in early May. He said, “We cannot find a panacea that can guarantee the sustainable supply of food, but it is certain that agrochemicals and biotechnology can contribute to solving this problem.â€
At present, food production has become the focus of global attention. Some analysts even predict that high food prices will be maintained for at least 10 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also stated that the rise in food prices will be a long-term international trend. This trend has made agriculture's scientific and technological innovation activities very attractive.
For BASF, the current task is to seize the opportunity to vigorously develop the agrochemicals business. At present, this part of BASF's business is mainly composed of herbicides and fungicides. Its sales in 2007 were US$4.3 billion, which is less than 6% of total sales. However, this year, BASF plans to invest 23% of its R&D budget of US$2 billion into the agrochemical sector, which is far higher than other business sectors. Through innovative activities, BASF strives to achieve a profit margin of 25% for its agrochemical business.
New herbicides challenge glyphosate
At present, BASF has developed several new pesticide varieties and plans to launch them on the market next year. For example, herbicides sold under the trade name Kixor can remove the broad leafhoppers that are resistant to glyphosate. The emergence of this type of broad-leafed grass has challenged the most commonly used herbicide glyphosate.
Although as early as 2002 Monsanto's glyphosate herbicides and seed products had already dominated the market, BASF believes that it should have its own R&D results and therefore continue to invest in herbicide research and development. In 2003, weeds appeared in the farmlands of Virginia and Indiana in the United States. There are currently as many as 14 kinds of weeds resistant to glyphosate. . BASF’s insistence was finally put to use.
According to experts' estimation, the current market size of this kind of broadleaf herbicide fishing is 5 billion to 6 billion US dollars/year, accounting for one third of the global herbicide market. If Kixor can successfully integrate with other herbicides, including glyphosate, in the field, its sales can reach as much as 200-300 million U.S. dollars per year.
Innovation and development of alliance Monsanto
In addition to this new weed herbicide, BASF has also developed other new products. The company expects its current market value for new products in the field of agrochemicals will total up to US$1.5 billion. BASF also carried out a large number of innovative activities in the formulation of pesticides, such as the company recently developed an isocyanate polymer, which can be used to disperse the active ingredients of new pesticides in water without using organic solvents. .
In addition, BASF researchers have also developed new uses for agrochemical products to promote plant growth. Under controlled conditions, BASF's fungicides F500 and Boscalid can enhance the photosynthesis of tomato plants. With this effect, farmers can produce more fruits. BASF's innovative activities on existing pesticide species also include seed processing technologies. BASF has successfully developed nine products in this area and it is expected that the market size of such products will increase to US$600 million by 2010.
In terms of seed technology research and development, BASF has formed an alliance with Monsanto. The current cooperative research has been carried out for one year, with emphasis on improving the production of corn, cotton and soybeans. The immediate goal of the R&D alliance is to increase plant yields and drought resistance by combining plant characteristics with gene research libraries. The first product of the two companies, drought-tolerant corn, has been identified for listing in 2012.
Transgenic crops are gradually accepted
Regardless of how many breakthroughs have been made, BASF and its partners and competitors must now try to dispel public concerns about GM crops. Those who are critical of GM crops still believe that they may have an impact on human security and the environment. However, as food prices have been rising all the way, such criticism may be getting smaller and smaller. Experts said that since the rise in food prices, people’s awareness of GM crops has become higher and higher.
However, there are also organizations that are skeptical about the use of biotechnology to increase crop yields and thus reduce the pressure on high food prices. They believe that many people's proposals for significantly increasing grain yields for genetically modified crops are unacceptable and unacceptable. For the time being, GM crops have not shown signs of a significant increase in production. In contrast, the yield of genetically modified soybeans that can tolerate herbicides has been reduced.
Despite these difficulties, BASF has no intention of giving up biotechnology. The company firmly believes that biotechnology must be the next wave of plant protection. An executive from BASF stated that GM crops have not been accepted in the EU for a long time, but after intense discussions, the EU has recognized that people's demand for GM crops is very strong and has begun to accept such products. At present, the EU’s food is mainly dependent on imports. Soon the EU will rely on genetically modified soybeans imported from the United States and Latin America to feed animals.
R&D focus shifted to agrochemicals
During the downturn of agricultural product prices, farmers purchase agricultural chemicals mainly to control production costs within an acceptable range. Therefore, they often choose low-priced products when buying herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides rather than buying products that guarantee better yields. But now the situation is completely different. With the rise in food prices, farmers everywhere have begun to find ways to increase food production. In response to this market change, BASF began to expand the scale of plant protection business, continuously introduced new pesticide products and new dosage forms, and entered the field of genetically modified seeds.
"This is really an era when the agricultural sector and BASF are thrilled," said Michael Hohnz, president of the BASF Plant Protection Department, in a media briefing in Washington in early May. He said, “We cannot find a panacea that can guarantee the sustainable supply of food, but it is certain that agrochemicals and biotechnology can contribute to solving this problem.â€
At present, food production has become the focus of global attention. Some analysts even predict that high food prices will be maintained for at least 10 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also stated that the rise in food prices will be a long-term international trend. This trend has made agriculture's scientific and technological innovation activities very attractive.
For BASF, the current task is to seize the opportunity to vigorously develop the agrochemicals business. At present, this part of BASF's business is mainly composed of herbicides and fungicides. Its sales in 2007 were US$4.3 billion, which is less than 6% of total sales. However, this year, BASF plans to invest 23% of its R&D budget of US$2 billion into the agrochemical sector, which is far higher than other business sectors. Through innovative activities, BASF strives to achieve a profit margin of 25% for its agrochemical business.
New herbicides challenge glyphosate
At present, BASF has developed several new pesticide varieties and plans to launch them on the market next year. For example, herbicides sold under the trade name Kixor can remove the broad leafhoppers that are resistant to glyphosate. The emergence of this type of broad-leafed grass has challenged the most commonly used herbicide glyphosate.
Although as early as 2002 Monsanto's glyphosate herbicides and seed products had already dominated the market, BASF believes that it should have its own R&D results and therefore continue to invest in herbicide research and development. In 2003, weeds appeared in the farmlands of Virginia and Indiana in the United States. There are currently as many as 14 kinds of weeds resistant to glyphosate. . BASF’s insistence was finally put to use.
According to experts' estimation, the current market size of this kind of broadleaf herbicide fishing is 5 billion to 6 billion US dollars/year, accounting for one third of the global herbicide market. If Kixor can successfully integrate with other herbicides, including glyphosate, in the field, its sales can reach as much as 200-300 million U.S. dollars per year.
Innovation and development of alliance Monsanto
In addition to this new weed herbicide, BASF has also developed other new products. The company expects its current market value for new products in the field of agrochemicals will total up to US$1.5 billion. BASF also carried out a large number of innovative activities in the formulation of pesticides, such as the company recently developed an isocyanate polymer, which can be used to disperse the active ingredients of new pesticides in water without using organic solvents. .
In addition, BASF researchers have also developed new uses for agrochemical products to promote plant growth. Under controlled conditions, BASF's fungicides F500 and Boscalid can enhance the photosynthesis of tomato plants. With this effect, farmers can produce more fruits. BASF's innovative activities on existing pesticide species also include seed processing technologies. BASF has successfully developed nine products in this area and it is expected that the market size of such products will increase to US$600 million by 2010.
In terms of seed technology research and development, BASF has formed an alliance with Monsanto. The current cooperative research has been carried out for one year, with emphasis on improving the production of corn, cotton and soybeans. The immediate goal of the R&D alliance is to increase plant yields and drought resistance by combining plant characteristics with gene research libraries. The first product of the two companies, drought-tolerant corn, has been identified for listing in 2012.
Transgenic crops are gradually accepted
Regardless of how many breakthroughs have been made, BASF and its partners and competitors must now try to dispel public concerns about GM crops. Those who are critical of GM crops still believe that they may have an impact on human security and the environment. However, as food prices have been rising all the way, such criticism may be getting smaller and smaller. Experts said that since the rise in food prices, people’s awareness of GM crops has become higher and higher.
However, there are also organizations that are skeptical about the use of biotechnology to increase crop yields and thus reduce the pressure on high food prices. They believe that many people's proposals for significantly increasing grain yields for genetically modified crops are unacceptable and unacceptable. For the time being, GM crops have not shown signs of a significant increase in production. In contrast, the yield of genetically modified soybeans that can tolerate herbicides has been reduced.
Despite these difficulties, BASF has no intention of giving up biotechnology. The company firmly believes that biotechnology must be the next wave of plant protection. An executive from BASF stated that GM crops have not been accepted in the EU for a long time, but after intense discussions, the EU has recognized that people's demand for GM crops is very strong and has begun to accept such products. At present, the EU’s food is mainly dependent on imports. Soon the EU will rely on genetically modified soybeans imported from the United States and Latin America to feed animals.
Drill Bits are cutting tools used to remove material to create holes, almost always of circular cross-section. Drill bits come in many sizes and shapes and can create different kinds of holes in many different materials. In order to create holes drill bits are usually attached to a drill, which powers them to cut through the workpiece, typically by rotation. The drill will grasp the upper end of a bit called the shank in the chuck.
Drill bits come in standard sizes, described in the drill bit sizes article. A comprehensive drill bit and tap size chart lists metric and imperial sized drill bits alongside the required screw tap sizes. There are also certain specialized drill bits that can create holes with a non-circular cross-section.
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