Meet Our Investors: BASF

In 2050, more than nine billion people will live on our planet. The world population and its demands will keep growing, while the planet’s resources are finite.

If nothing changes, we will need the resources of almost three of our planets to meet the demands of the population – a huge global challenge.

BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future – and we have been doing so for 150 years. These words represent who BASF is as the world’s leading chemical company, as well as confirm our commitment to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life.

The BASF portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. Research Triangle Park is the headquarters for our North America Crop Protection business. Our team works closely with farmers to help them get the most out of every acre so they can feed our growing population. We also specialize in turf, ornamentals and pest control.

Customers are the center of everything we do. To provide them with value we must effectively manage the present while anticipating the future. One way we accomplish this is by making a long-term investment in education.

I’m proud to work for a company that helps prepare our future leaders by interacting with students and educators. Over the years, BASF scientists have conducted hands-on science experiments in classrooms and participated in education outreach and mentorship initiatives. We have also invited teachers into our facility to meet with our experts and experience the work being performed in laboratories and greenhouses.

In 2015, to best organize our investment in and involvement with public schools in Wake County, we formed a relationship with Wake Education Partnership (WakeEd). Recognizing the organization’s proven history of successful unions with schools and innovative and impactful programs for teachers and students, we became a Cornerstone Investor.

We recently participated in the annual WakeEd STEM and Global Studies World Café p, where businesses were paired with schools to forge meaningful partnerships. It was encouraging to see a room full of business and education leaders discussing how collaborations can strengthen education.

Our next endeavor is to host teachers at our site during the upcoming WakeEd SummerSTEM program. Providing educators with the understanding of how their curriculum is relevant to the work being accomplished in the business community helps them better understand what skills are needed for various careers and learn more about current industry practices. By taking these key learnings back to their classrooms, they can help guide students on their educational journey.

BASF is committed to financially supporting Wake Ed efforts and to contributing employee time and expertise. It takes both resources to yield success. We encourage other businesses to partner with Wake Ed and join in our effort to continue to provide the best possible education in Wake County.