BASF Aktiengesellschaft, is moving toward the launch of a major new fungicidal active ingredient of the strobilurin class of chemistry. The chemical named F 500 has outstanding characteristics and has the potential to become a world's leading fungicide. Details will be presented by BASF scientists at the forthcoming British Crop Protection Conference in Brighton, United Kingdom.

Found to control the major plant pathogens from all classes of fungi, the F 500 active ingredient has a broad range of efficacy against many diseases in many crops including cereals, grapes, vegetables and fruits. It is also highly reliable, crop-safe and has a low toxicological and ecotoxicity profile.

Dr. Friedrich Vogel, President, BASF Agricultural Products Division: "We believe F 500 is truly
unique. Its exceptional biology and high activity set it apart from every alternative available today. We expect that with its wide range of activity, F 500 will become a universal fungicide and an excellent mixture partner for the effective management of fungal diseases. We therefore believe that the new substance has the potential to be a leading tool for growers throughout the world and we estimate annual peak sales to be substantially more than 300 million Euro.''

The registration process for F 500 is underway in all major countries. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. has granted F 500 "Reduced Risk Status''. "We expect first approvals for a number of crops in 2002, with many more products to be introduced in the following years,'' says Juergen Altbrod, BASF's head of Global Registration and Product Safety.

Following successful market introductions of the two fungicidal active ingredients epoxiconazole and kresoxim-methyl since 1993, the launch of this new strobilurine confirms the innovative strength of BASF as a leader in fungicidal products.

BASF has started construction on a manufacturing facility to produce the F 500 active ingredient in Schwarzheide, Germany. This facility, the largest single investment ever made by the Agricultural Products Division, will cost an estimated 117 million Euro and will have 200 full-time employees. Plant start-up is planned for mid 2001.

In 1999, BASF posted sales of 1,745 million Euro with crop protection agents. On July 1, 2000,
BASF acquired the global American Cyanamid crop protection business vaulting it to the number
three position in crop protection product sales worldwide.

BASF is a return-focused global company generating long-term growth and profitability from its
activities in chemicals, health and nutrition, and oil and gas. The company's product range includes high-value chemicals, plastics, dyestuffs, dispersions, automobile and industrial coatings, crop protection products, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, crude oil and natural gas. BASF's approach to integration, known in German as "Verbund'', is one of the company's particular strengths and provides a unique competitive advantage. With sales in 1999 of 29.5 billion Euro (about 29.5 billion USD) and a workforce of about 105,000 employees, BASF is one of the world's top chemical companies. BASF's internet address is http://www.basf-ag.de in  Germany, and http://basf.com in the US. 

Company news release
N3103