April 29, 2025
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano, Senior Vice President of BASF's Agricultural Solutions Division for Latin America, officially assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors of CropLife Latin America, the trade association representing the crop protection industry in the region. The association brings together seven companies and a network of 26 associations across Latin America.
Sergi’s appointment took place during the Annual Convention of CropLife Latin America, which gathers more than 60 participants from 18 Latin American countries from April 28 to 30 in Santiago, Chile.
In his remarks as the new Chairman, Sergi called on the associations to drive innovation as the engine for sustainable development. "Without innovation, there is no agriculture," he emphasized, noting that innovation not only brings new technologies to farmers but also involves transforming processes across the entire value chain to make them more efficient.
"Agriculture demands creativity and ingenuity from us to address today’s challenges. Adapting to climate change, protecting biodiversity, overcoming trade barriers, adopting new technologies, ensuring food security, and combating illegal trade are interconnected challenges that we must tackle holistically," Sergi stated.
He highlighted that this innovative approach is already being implemented through the "Sustainable Agriculture in Action" (SPMF) projects. This holistic management model is being applied in Chile, Guatemala, Colombia, Kenya, Morocco, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is an initiative of CropLife International, demonstrating the sector’s commitment to agricultural sustainability.
Sergi emphasized that the project results are positive, as an integrated approach allows for stronger connections between regulation, productivity, farming practices, the facilitation of public-private partnerships, efforts against illegal trade, and better communication about agriculture’s advances toward sustainable development.
"Sustainability is a journey, and our commitment is to contribute by developing and launching technological innovations, increasing agricultural productivity, and improving farming practices," Vizoso-Sansano stressed. "At the same time, every illegal product that enters the agricultural market harms health, the environment, the economy, undermines competitiveness, and threatens innovation," he warned. He urged associations to integrate their work areas with a holistic approach, which must include strengthening actions against illegal trade.
Counterfeiting, adulteration, smuggling, and theft of crop protection products can account for up to 20% of the market in Latin America.
Sergi succeeds Ronaldo Pereira, Global President of FMC, who served as Chairman of the CropLife Latin America Board over the past two years.
Sergi Vizoso-Sansano holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona (Spain), a Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Innsbruck (Austria), and a postgraduate degree in Economics and Business Administration from IESE Business School in Barcelona (Spain).
He has built a career of more than 25 years within BASF’s Agricultural Solutions business, having served as BASF Vice President for Central Europe, with international experience in Germany, the United States, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Brazil. He is currently also President of the Board of Directors of CropLife Brazil.
About CropLife Latin America
CropLife Latin America is the international trade association representing the Plant Science Industry, which researches and develops agricultural technologies (crop protection products, biotechnology, and seeds) to help farmers improve crop production efficiency and ensure food security.
It represents seven leading R&D companies and a network of associations in 18 Latin American countries. The companies are Syngenta, FMC, Bayer, BASF, Sumitomo Chemical, Corteva Agriscience, and Amvac.
CropLife Latin America is one of the 11 regional associations affiliated with CropLife International, the global federation of the Crop Science Industry.
