Jan van den Berg appointed as professor holding an endowed chair in Plant Envirogenetics at Maastricht University
- Boosting research on healthy and tasty vegetables by collaboration between industry and university
- R&D manager at BASF’s vegetable seeds business to teach students on vegetable genetics and environmental factors
Nunhem, the Netherlands – February 26, 2020 – Jan van den Berg Ph.D., Manager of Strategic Alliance & Partnering at BASF’s vegetable seeds business, has been appointed as professor holding an endowed chair at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. For the next five years, he will take up a chair in the field of Plant Envirogenetics for one day a week.
This new field focuses on the relationship between vegetable genetics and environmental factors with respect to nutrients and taste. These environmental factors include growing conditions as well as post-harvest conditions such as storage, packaging, and processing. Van den Berg is utilizing the facilities and knowledge in this area offered by Brightlands campus Greenport Venlo and the campus of BASF’s vegetable seeds business in Nunhem, Limburg.
“I started as an agronomist and developed more and more interest in biochemistry and genetics. I think it’s a great opportunity to use the experience I have gained in recent years in this field to pass it on to students,” says Jan van den Berg. In his new position, he will also assist Maastricht University in developing an educational curriculum for botany. Van den Berg has 25 years of experience in R&D management of vegetable breeding and biotechnology. After studying agronomy at Wageningen University and completing his Ph.D. in vegetable crops at Cornell University in the US, he moved to Scotland to perform postgraduate research on post-harvest raspberry physiology before joining BASF’s vegetable seeds business in 1995.
“This appointment reflects the ambition of BASF to make healthy food more attractive,” says Andreas Sewing, Vice President R&D at BASF’s vegetable seeds business. “Better insights into the relationship between vegetables and environmental factors and close cooperation with partners in the vegetable supply chain help to develop vegetable solutions that are more in line with consumer wishes. After all, ensuring a positive consumer experience is our ultimate goal.”
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
Due to rapid population growth, the world is increasingly dependent on our knowledge and resources to develop and maintain sustainable agricultural practices and a healthy living environment. So, our task is to make this a reality, which we’re doing by working together with growers, agriculture professionals, and other experts. We’re investing in an active R&D pipeline and a broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management solutions, plant health, pest control, and digital agricultural applications. With experts in the lab, in the field, on customers’ premises, in the office, and at production sites, we can combine innovative thinking with specific actions and develop practical and workable ideas for farmers and growers, society, and the planet. In 2018, our division achieved a turnover of €6.2 billion. For further information, please see www.agro.basf.nl.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The BASF group employs approximately 122,000 people, who contribute to the success of our customers in practically all sectors and in nearly all countries around the world. Our product portfolio is divided into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. BASF had revenues of approximately €63 billion in 2018. BASF is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. You can find more information at www.basf.com.