Innovating solutions on health maintenance

By the year 2050, there will be 9 billion people on Earth. With 30% more people to nourish, food demand will rise accordingly. Compounding this, we currently waste about 30% of the food produced for human consumption. BASF has a responsibility to be part of a solution, and we take this responsibility very seriously. We understand that though industries work on common principles/frameworks, the challenges faced by them are quite diverse based on country level macro and micro economic factors. This is especially true when it comes to food industry. BASF’s Newtrition approach is to “think global and act local”.

Food – meaning its supply, safety, sustainability, quality and quantity – are all in-scope under BASF’s strategy. We have teams dedicated to looking at the food chain holistically and partnering with the right organisations to make changes and improvements to the current situation. And health goes beyond food, into pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and even food packaging, etc. Many industries play a role in human health. That is why BASF’s innovations focus on solutions for the growing population on our finite planet.

Consumers are gaining more sophistication with regard to preventative health. They know that food and supplements are an important factor in maintaining health. This is driven in part by access to information and an increased disposable income which enables informed prevention choices,
but also by an increasing shift of costs from the healthcare systems towards the consumer.

BASF’s solutions focus on health maintenance and prevention of chronic conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and the growing obesity problem. In addition, we offer solutions for lifestyle concerns related to time-poor consumption habits, energy and stress management, and maintaining healthy eyes while working long hours in front of screens, for example. Many health concerns can be addressed with preventative measures such as maintaining adequate intake of vitamins, minerals and other health ingredients such as omega 3 fatty acids.

As a responsible company active in the field of nutrition, BASF innovates in a way that discovers unmet needs rather than chasing traditional habits and following familiar or popular trends. BASF has a broad view of what it means to innovate as an ingredient manufacturer. Traditionally, our customers are asking for new and innovative ingredients to address major health concerns. But BASF does more than innovating single products; we are also investing in scientific R&D projects. For example, our Newtrition Asia Research Grant, entering its third year of operation, has brought together food, beverage and supplement manufacturers with researchers in human health. The goal is to address health issues that we face in India and Asia Pacific. This innovation platform has already fuelled new discoveries in how nutrition affects health and how human nutrition products can deliver health benefits to consumers.

Another innovation target for BASF is to develop new application formats and to improve the technical performance of our ingredients. We are excited about our omega 3 advantages in the marketplace and also product offerings for consumers. Our high concentrate omega 3 products enable the production of smaller and purer tablets which will increase convenience and safety for consumers. This changes the omega 3 supplement market and enables manufacturers to target a new group of convenience-driven non- or infrequent consumers.

BASF Group employs over 10,000 experts who are focused on R&D activities, not including many more in support functions and ancillary roles which contribute to research and development.

BASF has a significant R&D pipeline showing which innovations in science, technical performance, production improvements, and ingredient discovery are evaluated. This phase-gate pipeline allows BASF innovations to be rigorously tested to ensure commercial viability while meeting BASF’s standards for safety, sustainability, and other corporate social responsibilities. With such meticulous approach, the time required to launch a new product can range widely, depending on the degree of innovation inherent in the product. Product evolutionary changes can be achieved in a short timeframe, say one year. Highly innovative products can take three years or longer to meet customer and regulatory needs.

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