BASF concludes participation in Fruit Attraction 2025 by creating value in the fruit and vegetable industry 

‘Connecting for greater value’ is the slogan with which BASF participated in Fruit Attraction 2025, in Madrid. With this same motto, the company invited professionals in the sector to ‘connect’ and experience BASF’s comprehensive solutions, from seed genetics to digital tools and crop protection. 

Welcome to BASF’s Melonution

Among its new developments this year, the company is focusing on melons and watermelons as strategic crops, uniting synergies and strategies under a single concept: The Melonution. 

“The Melonution is our strategic movement to strengthen the melon and watermelon industry through innovation, sustainability, and shared growth”, says Diego Maestre, Global Crop Manager at BASF | Nunhems. 

The Melonution is based on four pillars that have marked out the company’s path to achieving success in melons and watermelons in the past few years. 

For starters, in terms of production and quality, combining a response to agronomic needs (biotic and abiotic stress, for example), and demand for organoleptic quality, recognized as its identity, in the same genetics. The result is BASF’s new line of ‘superplants’ in Santa Claus (piel de sapo) melons, for example, spearheaded by Izalco.

The path to success is also a matter of trust, and in this respect, BASF| Nunhems advocates for deepening collaboration within the supply chain. Thanks to strategic partners, the company has developed projects such as Galkia® and Fashion®. Moreover, Maestre also emphasizes the high quality of their ‘Premium Universe,’ a range that accompanies their seedless watermelons. 

The third path to success is marked by innovation. 

“We create new eating experiences”, says Maestre, pointing out two of them: their Mayan line of Dino (Gaya)-type melons with white Asian flesh, with a remarkable lifespan on the plant and sugar content, and their single-serving watermelons, including Takemi. 

And finally, versatility. BASF | Nunhems is developing melon and watermelon varieties suitable for both fresh and processed consumption, thereby responding to the new consumer demands and offering high value for in-store cutting. 

But consumers also demand firmer flesh that maintains consistent quality even in the most adverse climatic conditions. ‘Dual purpose’ is their most versatile concept, with Bazman and Harmonium as its reference varieties. 

All the technology in tomatoes 

Along with melons and watermelons, tomatoes are one of the key crops for the company, which continues to expand its portfolio by adding new varieties. 

In vine tomatoes, for example, a segment in which BASF occupies a leading position, the company has added Beires, a variety that “offers extremely high yield”, according to Ester Serrano, Crop Lead South Europe Tomato Fresh at BASF | Nunhems. 

Last season, the company was also a pioneer in bringing the first rugose-resistant loose tomato into the market, Palmeo, also resistant to Fulvia. This large tomato (GG-GGG-size) is also outstanding for its productivity. 

In addition, the seed company has reinforced its range of plum tomatoes, led by Azovian, and followed by new varieties with different sizes. In this category, BASF is also developing its Intense® range, where the company is focusing on NUN 09399 TOF (for export) and NUN 06226 TOF (for processing) for Spain and Morocco. 

In cherry tomatoes, Daivion is its reference variety in the round category, although they are focusing on developing the cherry plum segment for mid-tech and high-tech. In this connection, they have added Purion, for medium- and high-tech farms, to Vitalion and Marvelion. 

“It’s a very productive variety, with very good fruit quality, appearance, and lifespan”, explains Serrano. 

Finally, BASF continues to work on completing its range of rootstocks. This season, along with Dreampower and Maaspower, the company expects to launch two new stocks to complete the range of vigour levels. All of them, of course, are resistant to the rugose virus.

BioSolutions by BASF 

With this new concept, BASF is bringing together a wide range of high-performance biological products designed to enrich, fortify, and protect crops in a natural way, in harmony with the Earth. 

In this way, the company is adapting to the new times in farming by following the rhythm of nature. 

Under this heading, BASF already has Serifel® and Velifer®. A broad-spectrum fungicide and an insecticide, both products are of microbial origin. On the other hand, Essenciel®, is made from natural extracts, with fungicidal, acaricidal, and insecticidal action. 

BASF’s biosolutions make it possible to tackle the growing challenges in the sector through biological control. Thanks to the extraordinary power and intelligence of nature, the company offers effective, reliable solutions that are tailor-made and easy to use. 

“Our range of products helps farmers reduce waste and manage resistances, improve the stress tolerance of their crops and protect them from pests and diseases for longer periods, providing greater flexibility in harvesting dates”, explains Arturo Sanz, Crop Manager Vegetables at BASF, who emphasizes: “With all this, we are contributing to a more sustainable future.” 

BASF is providing the sector with comprehensive solutions to boost the fruit and vegetables business efficiently and sustainably, creating value throughout the chain and in line with consumer demands. 

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