BASFBASF PlantPlant ScienceScience –– FutureFuture ProductsProducts EFSA Scientific Hearing 21st March 2007, Parma, Italy Christine Wandelt Regulatory Affairs BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science – Future Products BASF Plant Science Project Portfolio Examples Conclusion 21st March 2007 2 BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science Focus: zMore efficient agriculture zBetter, healthier nutrition zRenewable resources – Plants as ‘Green’ Factories > 600 employees at 8 sites in 5 countries Partnership with seed companies Co-operations with universities and research institutes worldwide BASF Growth Cluster: 330 Mio. Euro R&D investments within the next three years 21st March 2007 3 BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science Platform BASF Plant Science North Carolina BASF Plant Science Ames, Iowa BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science Ludwigshafen 21st March 2007 4 BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science – Future Products BASF Plant Science Project Portfolio Examples Conclusion 21st March 2007 5 BASF Plant Science Strategic Focus Crop Nematode resistance More protection Herbicide tolerance Efficient Fungal resistance Agriculture Agronomic performance Yield increase Stress tolerance Feed Better, Amino acid profile value Phytate reduction Healthier Carotenoids Nutrition Food specialties Omega-3 fatty acids Plants as Plant ingredients Amylopectin “Green” Amylose Factories for industrial use 21st March 2007 6 BASF Plant Science Development Timeline for GM crops Gene Trait Trait Product Marketing Discovery Research Development Development / Sales ~ 2 years ~ 3 years ~ 3 years ~ 3-5 years 21st March 2007 7 BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science – Future Products BASF Plant Science Project Portfolio Examples Conclusion 21st March 2007 8 BASF Plant Science More Efficient Agriculture: Phytophthora Resistant Potatoes Resistance genes from Solanum Complementing existing resistance gene reservoir Directed at commercial potato genetic background 21st March 2007 9 BASF Plant Science More Efficient Agriculture: Drought Tolerance Explore existing gene Gene Proof Target pools e.g. in flowering Identification of Concept Crop plants, moss, algae, fungi Modulating gene expression e.g. transcription factors Potential target crops: Moss Trans- Parental wheat, oilseed rape, formants line maize, soybean 21st March 2007 10 BASF Plant Science Better, Healthier Nutrition: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Today Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids Explore metabolic pathways e.g. in Future plants, moss, algae, fungi Complementing Omega-3 existing fatty acid pathways genes Multi-gene constructs 21st March 2007 11 BASF Plant Science Plants as “Green” Factories: Optimized Potato Starch Modulate expression of genes in the starch metabolic pathway (down- regulate, RNAi) Analogous traits obtained via mutational breeding Amflora E.g. waxy maize, high-amylose maize 21st March 2007 12 BASF Plant Science BASF Plant Science – Future Products BASF Plant Science Project Portfolio Examples Conclusion 21st March 2007 13 BASF Plant Science Conclusion Products in development z Complement or modulate plant biosynthetic pathways z Tools: familiar from plant defence mechanisms (R- genes, RNAi) and breeding (transcription factors) z Crops: wheat, potato, maize, soybean, oilseed rape Safety considerations z Comparative risk assessment approach applicable z Case-by-case z Bilateral discussions 21st March 2007 14 .