BASF supports innovative urban farm project focused on food security

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 17, 2023 — Today BASF Agricultural Solutions launched a pilot sponsorship of Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm (PPHUF) in Baltimore, Maryland at this year’s Juneteenth Celebration (17th June 2023) and tandem launch of the AgriHood Baltimore Farmers Market.

“Promoting agriculture education and training the next generation of farmers is a priority for BASF,” said Max Moncaster, BASF Manager of Public and Government Affairs Manager, Agricultural Solutions North America.

The pilot mission is to support PPHUF’s summer 2023 programming and identify future alignment opportunities.

“We are excited about this summer’s pilot sponsorship from BASF,” said Farmer Chippy, founder of PPHUF.

Plantation Park Heights was founded with the goal of transforming the quality of life for the Park Heights community by creating the nation’s first “AgriHood,” where agriculture and food production can provide healthy meals, education, and employment opportunities for those who were left out prior to COVID-19.

“It takes a village to transform our food system. BASF is joining a great group of community partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maryland Farm Bureau, University of Maryland, Morgan State University, and Rite Aid to be a part of that village. BASF’s expertise we believe will play a critical role in our current and future operations,” said Farmer Chippy.

BASF’s presence at the event included a booth with agriculture-focused activities and giveaways geared toward school aged children. In addition to a butterfly coloring project, kids visiting the booth were introduced to a vegetable growing kit that provides all the resources they need to grow tomatoes and bell peppers at home over the summer.

“PPHUF is cultivating a new talent pipeline for the agriculture industry which aligns BASF’s award-winning STEAM education programs: Kids Lab, Tech Academy and Teen’s lab which all provide hands-on learning helping students become the innovators and leaders of the future. BASF is grateful for the opportunity to fully support this endeavor,” said Moncaster.

BASF will continue to partner with PPHUF to onboard new farmers at each farmers market during the summer 2023 season. In addition, BASF is committed to supporting the activities and programs for kids on Wednesday evenings (3:30pm - 7:30pm) at Druid Hill Park and Saturdays (4:00pm - 9:00pm) at the Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm.

Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact

on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office, and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success — for farmers, agriculture, and future generations. In 2022, our division generated sales of €10.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.