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Business & Economy

Insecticide Producer BASF Expands Research Facility In RTP

WUNC | By Gurnal Scott
Published September 4, 2013 at 4:28 PM EDT
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BASF

Officials with a leading plant sciences company have expanded their presence in Research Triangle Park.  BASF cut the ribbon today on new lab, office and greenhouse space.  The expansion cost $33 million. 

The new addition includes an insect production facility, or an "insect zoo," to aid in testing bug-killing agents.  Nigel Armes is BASF's director of research and development.  He says the facility is key in establishing the company as a leader in insecticide production.

"It particularly supports our area in biotechnology research which utilizes about two-thirds of the new R and D expansion and another big component is for our insect control research," Armes says.

Armes says BASF's crop protection research is important in North Carolina because of the state's emphasis on agriculture.  Dignitaries including Governor Pat McCrory and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler were on hand for the new facility's unveiling.

Business & EconomyBASFResearch Triangle ParkInsectsAgriculture
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Gurnal Scott
Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at News/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' NewsRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to News Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal’s reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.
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