Nick Gibb MP visited the production plant of BASF Agricultural Specialties on the Harwood Road Industrial Estate in Littlehampton.
This division of the multinational BASF, took over the work that was being developed at the Horticultural Research Institute that used to be based in Littlehampton.
The Littlehampton BASF site specialises in bio pesticides (pest-control products) and is the largest nematode (tiny worms that eat crop-eating insects, such as slugs) production facility in the world.
The site employs 35 people. They export their products throughout the world, with their largest markets in the Ukraine, USA, the Netherlands as well as the the UK.
Nick Gibb said: “With the world moving away from chemical pesticides, the future clearly lies with bio pesticides. Littlehampton is the only centre in the world that produces nematodes that attack slugs. And BASF Littlehampton is a leading player in nematodes use against other pests such as vine weevils and Sciarid flies.
“It is wonderful that we have such a world leading plant based in two of Littlehampton’s Industrial estates, Lineside and Harwood Road.”
Photos:
1. From left : Mark Downing (Site Manager); Igne Cugunove; Nick Gibb; Mark Shepherd (Distribution Manager)
2. Nick Gibb examining nematodes under a microscope (each nematode is about 1mm long); Jeremy Pearce (Process Development Manager)
3. Jeremy Pearce; Nick Gibb; Mark Shepherd; Mark Downing