Editing BASF (section)

==Business segments and leadership==
[[File:BASF erleben Tor2.jpg|thumb|BASF visitor center, Ludwigshafen, Germany]]

BASF operates in a variety of markets. As of 2020 its business is organized in the segments of Chemicals, Plastics, Performance Products, Functional Solutions, Agricultural Solutions, and Oil and Gas.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===Chemicals===
BASF produces a wide range of chemicals such as solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, [[industrial gas]]es, basic petrochemicals, and inorganic chemicals (such as [[Z-Cote]]). The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile, and automotive industries.

===Plastics===
BASF's plastic products include high-performance materials in [[thermoplastics]], foams, and urethanes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plasticsportal.com |title=BASF Plastics Portal – Global Homepage |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119033549/http://www.plasticsportal.com/ |archive-date=19 November 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Engineering Plastics'''<br />BASF's Engineering Plastics consists of the "4 Ultras" – Ultramid [[polyamide]] (PA) nylon-based resins, Ultradur, [[polybutylene terephthalate]] (PBT), Ultraform, [[polyacetal]] (POM), and Ultrason, [[polysulfone]] (PSU) and [[polyethersulfone]] (PES).

'''Styrenics'''<br />BASF Styrenics consists of the Foams and Copolymers. BASF's [[polystyrene|styrenic copolymers]] have applications in electronics, building and construction, and automotive components. In 2011 BASF and [[INEOS]] blended their global business activities in the fields of [[styrene]] monomers (SM), [[polystyrene]] (PS), [[acrylonitrile butadiene styrene]] (ABS), styrene butadiene copolymers (SBC) and other styrene-based [[copolymers]] (SAN, AMSAN, ASA, MABS) into a joint venture named [[Styrolution]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interpack.com/cipp/md_interpack/custom/pub/content,oid,16520/lang,2/ticket,g_u_e_s_t/~/EU_Commission_approves_formation_of_joint_venture_Styrolution.html |title=EU Commission approves formation of joint venture Styrolution |date=13 June 2011 |website=Messe Düsseldorf GmbH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515024752/http://www.interpack.com/cipp/md_interpack/custom/pub/content%2Coid%2C16520/lang%2C2/ticket%2Cg_u_e_s_t/~/EU_Commission_approves_formation_of_joint_venture_Styrolution.html |archive-date=15 May 2012 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref>

'''Polyurethanes'''<br />BASF's [[Polyurethane]]s business consists of diverse technologies and finished products. Urethane chemicals are raw materials used in rigid and flexible foams commonly used for insulation in the construction and appliance industries, furniture, packaging, and transportation.

'''Foams'''<br />Foams like Styropor are generally used as insulating materials. They are eco-efficient and offer advantages over other materials in terms of cost-effectiveness, preservation of resources and environmental protection. Investments made for insulating materials usually pay for themselves within a short time and contribute to retaining and even enhancing the value of buildings.

'''Polyamides and Intermediates'''<br />BASF manufactures polyamide precursors and [[polyamide]].

'''Biodegradable plastics'''<br />BASF developed a [[biodegradable plastic]] with a high content of [[polylactic acid]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

===Performance products===
BASF produces a range of performance chemicals, [[coatings]] and [[functional polymers]]. These include raw materials for detergents, textile and leather chemicals, pigments and raw materials for adhesives, [[paper chemicals]]. Customers are the automotive, oil, paper, packaging, textile, sanitary products, detergents, construction materials, coatings, printing, and leather industries.

===Functional Solutions===
[[File:BASF-sponsored Museum for Laquerware Münster.jpg|thumb|BASF-sponsored Museum for Laquerware in [[Münster]], Germany]]
[[File:LudwigshafenBASF2017-07-29-12-44-06.jpg|thumb|BASF in Ludwigshafen]]
BASF's Functional Solutions segment consists of the Catalysts, Construction Chemicals and Coatings divisions. These divisions develop customer-specific products, in particular for the automotive and construction industries.

===Agricultural===
BASF supplies agricultural products and chemicals including [[fungicides]], [[herbicides]], [[insecticides]] and seed treatment products.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Tan, S |author2=Evans, RR |author3=Dahmer, ML |author4=Singh, BK |author5=Shaner, DL |title=Imidazolinone-tolerant crops: history, current status and future. |work=Pest Management Science |date=March 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Major Products: Welcome to BASF Crop Protection |url=http://www.agro.basf.com/agr/AP-Internet/en/content/solutions/index}}</ref> The company also researches [[nutrigenomics]].<ref name=ydtyg>{{cite web |author=Wallace, Helen |title=Your Diet Tailored to Your Genes: Preventing Diseases or Misleading Marketing? |publisher=GeneWatch UK |date=January 2006 |url=http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/Nutrigenomics.pdf |access-date =9 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530005436/http://www.genewatch.org/uploads/f03c6d66a9b354535738483c1c3d49e4/Nutrigenomics.pdf |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> BASF opened a new crop protection technology center in Limburgerhof, Germany in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BASF opens crop protection technology center in Germany |url=http://www.worldofchemicals.com/media/basf-opens-crop-protection-technology-center-in-germany/10478.html |publisher=[[WorldOfChemicals]] |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=23 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923173951/http://www.worldofchemicals.com/media/basf-opens-crop-protection-technology-center-in-germany/10478.html |archive-date=23 September 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Biotechnology===
BASF was cooperating with [[Monsanto Company]] in research, development and marketing of biotechnology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corporate.basf.com/de/investor/veranstaltungen/termine/070321_interview.htm?id=V00-Eq3z_CNjlbcp.*0 |title=BASF-Gruppe: Interview Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht zur Zusammenarbeit mit Monsanto |author=BASF SE |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124043448/http://www.corporate.basf.com/de/investor/veranstaltungen/termine/070321_interview.htm?id=V00-Eq3z_CNjlbcp.*0 |archive-date=24 November 2012}}</ref> In correlation to this work, BASF has licensed many gene editing tools including [[CRISPR]] [[Cas9]] and CRISPR [[Cas12a|Cas12a (Cpf1)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basf.com/us/en/media/news-releases/2017/03/P-US-17-026.html |title=BASF licenses CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing technology from the Broad Institute |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729235711/https://www.basf.com/us/en/media/news-releases/2017/03/P-US-17-026.html |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/news-releases/2018/10/p-IR-181024.html |title=BASF licenses CRISPR-Cpf1 genome editing technology from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729235712/https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/news-releases/2018/10/p-IR-181024.html |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[BASF Plant Science]] subsidiary produces the [[Amflora]] and Starch Potato [[genetically engineered potato|genetically modified potato]] with reduced [[amylose]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=209 |title=EH92-527-1 – GM Approval Database |website=ISAAA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425214032/http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=209 |archive-date=25 April 2015 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="AM04-1020">{{cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=392 |title=AM04-1020 – GM Approval Database |website=ISAAA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425220011/http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=392 |archive-date=25 April 2015 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref> In 2010 BASF conducted Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs approved trials of genetically modified potatoes in the United Kingdom.<ref>http://uk.news.yahoo.com/01122006/325/ahead-given-gmo-potato-trials.html {{Dead link|date=June 2017|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Starch Potato was authorised for use in the USA<ref name="AM04-1020"/> in 2014.

Other GM crops are Phytaseed Canola varieties with [[phytase]], [[sulfonylurea herbicide]] tolerant [[soybean]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/developedby/default.asp?DeveloperID=3&DevelopedBy=BASF |title=GM Crop Events developed by BASF – GM Approval Database |website=ISAAA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316063352/http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/developedby/default.asp?DeveloperID=3&Developedby=BASF |archive-date=16 March 2013 |access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref> and drought tolerant corn (with cold shock protein B) developed with Monsanto.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=98 |title=MON87460 - GM Approval Database- ISAAA.org |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821221052/http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=98 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Oil and gas===
BASF explores for and produces oil and gas through its subsidiary [[Wintershall Dea]].

===Leadership===
Each of the divisions of BASF has a President. They are governed by a Chairman and [[CEO]].
*[[Friedrich Engelhorn]]
*[[Heinrich von Brunck]]
*[[Carl Bosch]]
*[[Carl Wurster]]
*[[Bernhard Timm]]
*[[Matthias Seefelder]]
*[[Jürgen Strube]] 1990-2003
*[[Jürgen Hambrecht]] 2003-2011
*[[Kurt Bock]] 2011-2018
*[[Martin Brudermüller]] 2018-2024
*[[Markus Kamieth]] 2024–present