Bunge and BASF Form Partnership to Process InVigor Gold Hybrid Canola Ahead of 2027 US Launch
Bunge has entered a strategic commercial partnership with BASF to crush and process InVigor Gold, a canola-quality Brassica juncea hybrid seed bred for hotter, drier growing regions. Crushing is set to begin at Bunge's Warden, Washington facility, with initial commercial availability of the seed planned for Montana, North Dakota and Washington in 2027.
Bunge has entered a strategic commercial partnership with BASF to crush and process the latter's new InVigor Gold hybrid canola seed, establishing a supply chain pathway ahead of the product's targeted United States rollout in 2027, according to a report published by Milling Middle East & Africa on 24 September 2026.
InVigor Gold is described by the source as "a canola-quality (Brassica juncea) hybrid specifically bred to thrive in hotter, drier regions and soils with lower organic matter, where traditional black-seeded canola (Brassica napus) often faces yield constraints." The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) has affirmed the seed as meeting full canola-quality standards, meaning the harvest can be processed on a standalone basis or co-mingled directly with conventional canola varieties without disrupting existing crush operations.
Bunge plans to initiate crushing operations for the novel seed at its processing plant in Warden, Washington. The partnership is reported to leverage "Bunge's extensive North American oilseed processing infrastructure," giving growers the confidence needed to adopt the new crop genetics and expand crop rotation strategies.
BASF introduced InVigor Gold to growers in 2025. In June 2026, the company announced InVigor Gold L322, described as the first hybrid in the portfolio. Initial commercial availability is planned for growers in Montana, North Dakota and Washington beginning in 2027, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
The arrangement is also set against BASF's broader investment in canola innovation. According to the source, BASF has made "a multi-million-euro investment to upgrade its Canola Breeding Centre of Innovation in Saskatoon, Canada." Bunge, for its part, has highlighted flexibility in its crushing assets, including projects designed to process novel seeds alongside conventional oilseeds, reflecting what the source characterises as "growing demand for differentiated crops and lower-carbon feedstocks."
Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
