History of Innovation

100 years of ingenuity... and counting.

 

You might not be aware of it, but BASF has been in the business of boosting crop yields for roughly a century, when its researchers invented the commercial production of fertilizer. Historians will tell you that was one of the biggest contributions to agriculture since the invention of the plow. But that’s not the only way that BASF has made major contributions to agriculture.

Take a step back in time and see for yourself. Here are some of the highlights of how the company has helped advance Canadian and global agriculture:
  • 1949: BASF introduced one of the first modern cereal herbicides that help establish the Green Revolution in agriculture.
  • 1974: BASAGRAN® – The first herbicide that could be applied onto emerged crops to control broadleaf weeds, it was followed in 1983 by the graminicide POAST®. Both products have been credited for their role in enabling no-tillage farming in Canada.
  • 1985 to 1997: The imidazolinone family of active ingredients introduces a range of residual activity to weed control.
  • 1995: Clearfield® Production System – Now covering five different crops, this system was the first-to-market in every one of them, including canola, lentils, wheat and sunflowers as well as the latest addition, XCEEDTM canola.
  • 2010: New herbicides powered by the unique active ingredient KIXOR® give growers the fastest, most effective burndown for the best start to the growing season.


The commitment to innovate at BASF will continue to provide growers with solutions to their needs. With multiple divisions extending beyond agriculture, this spirit infuses BASF, ensuring that you get the latest innovations brought to your fields.