LAUNCH: ENVIRONMENT
Industry and insects
STORY COURTESY BASF
BASF unveils monarch butterfly waystation in Geismar.
1012industryreport.com
BASF BASF
BASF
BASF
ISTOCK
E
arlier this year, BASF employees unveiled an official monarch butterfly waystation at the company’s Geismar, Louisiana, site in time for the insect’s spring migration and as a compliment to BASF’s Living Acres program. This biodiversity research initiative focuses on the creation and rehabilitation of monarch butterfly habitat alongside production agriculture. The nationally certified and registered waystation provides the necessary milkweeds, nectar sources and shelter to sustain the monarch butterflies as they migrate through North America. The Geismar waystation is one of several located at BASF sites across North America. Monarch butterflies and other pollinators serve an important role in sustaining human food sources and helping promote healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils and support other wildlife. “Helping to ensure a healthy monarch butterfly population is part of BASF’s commitment to sustainability and being responsible environmental stewards,” says Tom Yura, senior vice president and manager of the BASF site in Geismar. “We are the world’s largest chemical company, having just celebrated 150 years in operations. A business with such long-term success requires acting with conscientious care toward the environment and society.” BASF hosted a group of customers at its Geismar site in conjunction with the large agricultural trade show, Commodity Classic, which took place in New Orleans. As part of the customer event, guests visited the Geismar monarch waystation while learning more about the company’s Living Acres initiative and how planting milkweed can assist in promoting a healthy monarch butterfly population.
10/12 INDUSTRY REPORT • THIRD QUARTER 2016
27