BASF | Nunhems UK to host first stand-alone demo day at new Spalding site

Visitors will be able to see new and existing varieties from the company’s portfolio of leeks, carrots, lettuce and spinach growing in the field, alongside tomatoes and cucumbers from growers in the UK. Information on other breeding segments like corn salad, watermelon, artichokes and courgettes will be available, and BASF will be showcasing its crop protection portfolio for brassicas including its new biological attractant, Apthena.

“We see days like this as part of a broader commitment to the UK vegetable industry. The value chain – breeder, grower, retailer, consumer – is only as strong as the quality of the information flowing between each of those links,” said Dave Belshaw, BASF | Nunhems Country Manager.

“A demo day gives each of us a shared, physical reference point for that exchange, and an opportunity to further understand some of the challenges our customers are facing. It is imperative that we look for solutions to these challenges together to ensure we think holistically about the role we each play to support the industry long term.”

Product Development Specialist and demo site manager, Niall Beer, says the aim of the two days is straightforward: "People can walk the field, see how the varieties are behaving right now, and have a proper conversation about where they might fit in their own rotations."

Varieties on show

The leek plots are split into summer and autumn/winter sections, with eight summer varieties and eleven in the autumn/winter lineup. "The summer block carries our newest trial numbers in the UK, and there's one new number in the autumn segment alongside the existing portfolio. The leeks have held up well through the heat, and we're seeing good regrowth now the rain and cooler weather have arrived," Niall added

BASF | Nunhems has planted a large selection of carrots, including varieties that are usually suited to Southern Europe. "Ambyance is always the highlight, but Séance, Romance and Florance are also looking good,” he says.

“Alongside the nantes hybrid carrots, we’ve also got the imperator and colours range to see. They've done well in terms of top health and disease control, which is a useful sign even though this isn't traditional carrot-growing soil," said Niall.

Lettuce is represented across the main breeding segments – Iceberg, Romaine, Multileaf, Leaf, Gem and Mini Rom – with recent plantings of each put in place in the run-up to the demo to show the varieties at different growth stages. The spinach display, at sixteen varieties ranging from commercial to trial material and different speeds of growth, is intended to give a sense of how the portfolio offers something  for each window of the season, for all growers."

Plot your day

The demo site will open from 9am to 4pm on 7th and 8th October. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to book. Use W3W: racetrack.views.hobble.

If you’d like more information please contact, niall.beer@basf.com