Farmer and consumer survey respondents shared insights on agriculture industry issues

BOONE, IA, August 27, 2014 - A majority of U.S. consumers and farmers agree that farmers are responsible for feeding the world, and new technology and innovations are critical to achieving this goal.

These findings were uncovered in the latest BASF Farm Perspectives Study, conducted in early 2014, comparing consumer and farmer viewpoints on agriculture-related issues. More than 9,000 people located in seven difference countries participated in the study.

"Farmers and consumers understand the importance of new technology in agriculture and the role it plays in feeding a growing world population," said AJ Woodyard, Technical Crop Production Specialist at BASF. "BASF recognizes the need for innovative solutions and continues to develop new tools and technologies to meet this important challenge."

Farmer and Consumer Opinions

Nearly all farmers (95.6%) in the seven surveyed countries agree they have a shared responsibility to feed the growing population, and they're held to high expectations when doing so. With the world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, production will need to increase by 70 percent, and must include production of high-quality crops.

Although farmers feel prepared for this tremendous responsibility, most feel the responsibility is not valued by consumers. Only 40 percent of U.S. farmers feel respected by the general U.S. population. Despite this feeling, farmers understand the importance of feeding the world and look forward to new innovations and technologies to help them achieve this goal.

Most U.S. farmers (78.6%) and consumers (67.9%) agree that innovations are necessary to help farmers with the challenge of feeding the world. Survey respondents noted that feeding the world will require sustainable food production, possible through innovations in precision agriculture, machinery, fertilizers and chemical developments.

"The agricultural industry has made significant strides in innovation to improve food production methods over the years," Woodyard said. "At BASF, our goal is to continue to provide advanced tools and resources to help farmers get the most out of every acre."

In addition to partnering with farmers to bring value to their operation, BASF helps farmers through the introduction of new product innovations. BASF recently introduced Priaxor® fungicide, an advanced soybean fungicide, and plans to bring two new products-Engenia™ herbicide and Limus® urease inhibitor-to the market in the near future. These products, among others, will help growers be more successful and ultimately provide more food for a growing world population.

About the Study

The U.S. results of the BASF Farm Perspectives Study were announced today at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, with insights from Brady Spangenberg, Market Intelligence & Research Manager, BASF and Woodyard. The most recent wave of the study was conducted in early 2014 and included more than 2,100 farmer and 7,233 consumer participants in seven countries: U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, India and China.

Engenia is a trademark of BASF.

Limus and Priaxor are registered trademarks of BASF.

About BASF's Crop Protection division

With sales of more than €5.2 billion in 2013, BASF's Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, seed treatment and biological control as well as solutions to manage water, nutrients and plant stress. Its portfolio also includes products for turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. BASF's Crop Protection division is a leading innovator that supports growers to optimize agricultural production, improve their business efficiency and enhance the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web atwww.agro.basf.com or through oursocial media channels .

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visitwww.basf.us .

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 with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet atwww.basf.com .

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