BASF : Belchim Crop Protection, FMC Corporation and Rovensa Group support easyconnect closed transfer system

Limburgerhof, Germany, June 30, 2021 - In a move consistent with the CropLife Europe commitment to make closed transfer systems (CTS) universally available, the number of agricultural crop protection manufacturers supporting the easyconnect CTS continues to grow. From June 2021, Belchim Crop Protection, FMC Corporation and Rovensa Group join forces with ADAMA, BASF, Certis Europe, Corteva Agriscience, Nufarm and Syngenta to introduce easyconnect into the European market.

'We welcome Belchim, FMC and Rovensa joining us in our commitment to provide farmers an innovative solution to fill their sprayers faster and more easily, with increased safety for them and the environment,' explained Louise Brinkworth, Stewardship Leader EMEA, Corteva Agriscience, and chair of the easyconnect CTS Working Group steering committee. 'Now, we are a total of nine agricultural industry leaders offering farmers an even broader choice of products compatible with easyconnect.'

The easyconnect system is developed for liquid crop protection products and consists of two components: a unique cap - pre-fitted on the containers - and a coupler, which together establish the CTS.

'Belchim is very happy to join forces with its sister company Certis and other industry leaders in the easyconnect Working Group,' said Peter Lieckens, Director, Supplier Relationship and Supply Chain Management, Belchim. 'We are eager to support the further development and roll-out of easyconnect, which will offer a practical solution to farmers, safeguarding the environment and increasing operator safety.'

'FMC is committed to safety as one of the core company values. We are pleased to join forces with other major crop protection industry companies to continue the development of easyconnect and contribute to improving farmer operation safety,' said Sebastià Pons, EMEA Strategic Marketing Director of FMC.

'The easyconnect CTS is perfectly in line with our commitment to help farmers to handle the crop protection products safely for health and environment. We are supporting the European Green Deal project and we want to be an active player, helping in the achievement of the defined goals. We are joining an impressive group of agriculture industry leaders, all together, we will contribute and help agriculture to reach new levels of health and safety standards,' explained Eric van Innis, CEO of Rovensa Group.

The first market launch is expected in Denmark and the Netherlands in 2022, followed by France, Germany and the United Kingdom in 2023. Other countries are likely to follow.

Developed by BASF in collaboration with third-party equipment manufacturers, easyconnect has been extensively tested on-farm across Europe since 2015. Based on farmers' feedback, the system has been steadily improved in terms of handling and speed, making filling faster than via the commonly used induction hopper.

easyconnect is an open technology and available to all interested agricultural parties. Further industry players in the agrochemical sector, equipment manufacturers or any other parties interested in joining the launch of easyconnect are encouraged to contact any of the member companies.

For more information, please visit our website www.easyconnect.tech.

About easyconnect and the easyconnect Working Group

easyconnect is a closed transfer system (CTS) for liquid crop protection products that consists of two components: a unique cap - pre-fitted on the containers - and a coupler. It makes filling the sprayer faster, easier and safer than conventional methods. Developed by BASF in collaboration with third-party equipment manufacturers, easyconnect is accessible to all interested parties in the market. The easyconnect Working Group consists of interested companies that are piloting easyconnect in selected countries. As of June 2021, they are ADAMA, BASF, Belchim Crop Protection, Certis Europe, Corteva Agriscience, FMC Corporation, Nufarm, Rovensa Group and Syngenta.

About Belchim Crop Protection

From its origin in Belgium in 1987 to its current position as a major European and North-American player in the crop protection industry, Belchim Crop Protection has shown remarkable growth and a commitment to providing farmers with innovative products and the best advice on their use. Belchim Crop Protection has strategic partnerships with Japanese innovators such as Mitsui AgriSciences, ISK Biosciences and Mitsui Chemicals Agro (also shareholders of the company) for distribution and market development of innovative crop protection products. This alliance has led to a specialized portfolio that has been complemented by the development of own proprietary components.

About FMC Corporation

FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides innovative solutions to growers around the world with a robust product portfolio fueled by a market-driven discovery and development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management. This powerful combination of advanced technologies includes leading insect control products based on Rynaxypyr^® and Cyazypyr^® active ingredients; Authority^®, Boral^®, Centium^®, Command^® and Gamit^® branded herbicides; Talstar^® and Hero^® branded insecticides; and flutriafol-based fungicides. The FMC portfolio also includes biologicals such as Quartzo^® and Presence^® bionematicides. FMC Corporation employs approximately 6,400 employees around the globe. To learn more, please visit www.fmc.com.

FMC, the FMC logo, Rynaxypyr, Cyazypyr, Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, Gamit, Talstar, Hero, Quartzo, Presence, Rayora and Kalida are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions. Hero^® insecticide is a restricted use pesticide in the United States.

About Rovensa Group

Rovensa Group is a global leader in sustainable solutions for agriculture, which comprises bionutrition, biocontrol and crop protection solutions to help farmers to produce safe, healthy, and nutritious food for all. Supporting our mission of feeding the planet, our 1,700 employees across more than 30 countries, strive every day to leading the change in food production system through a well-balanced agriculture, which aims to preserve and enhance soil health, environmental health, and human health. With agricultural solutions sold over 90 countries worldwide, Rovensa offers a complementary portfolio of environmentally friendly and innovative solutions for plant health & care. From our 20 R&D Experimental Centers and Laboratories across the world to more than 800 agronomists in the field, we are working closely with farmers to help them to do more with fewer resources. Rovensa recognizes its responsibility to use its knowledge and experience to drive progress on sustainable agriculture to contribute to zero hunger in the world. The Group companies' portfolio includes a winner of the 2020-2021 European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE), awarded by the European Commission. For more information, go to www.rovensa.com.

Media Inquiries:

ADAMA	BASF	Belchim Crop Protection
Efrat Dayan Head of Corporate Communication [e-mail] [phone]	Stephanie Reiss Global External Communication Agricultural Solutions [e-mail] [phone]	Yves Eeckhout Quality Manager [e-mail] [phone]
Certis Europe	Corteva Agriscience	FMC Corporation
Gill Norriss Sequitur [e-mail] [phone]	József Máté Communications Leader, Europe [e-mail] [phone]	Eva Louise Holm Østergaard Communication Manager, EMEA [e-mail] [phone]
Nufarm	Rovensa Group	Syngenta
Christian Haschka Head of Corporate Affairs, EuMEA [e-mail] [phone]	Raquel Henriques Communication & Sustainability [e-mail] [phone]	Anna Bakola Head of External Communications [e-mail] [phone]

P-21-244