FMC opens research center in Shanghai

American chemical maker FMC Corp yesterday opened a new research center in Shanghai as part of its strategy to expand in Asia.

"FMC has grown dramatically in recent years. An important element of our strategy has been to put a greater focus and investment in Asia where our products and technologies have tremendous opportunities," said Pierre Brondeau, president, CEO and chairman of FMC.

He was speaking at an event for the Asia Innovation Center in the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park.

The diversified company makes insecticides and herbicides to increase crop yield, functional ingredients to enhance food texture and stability as well as lithium products to improve battery performance.

Agriculture could be one of the key growth areas for FMC in China as the central government has listed "modern agriculture" as one of its policy priorities, said Gordon Xu, president of FMC China.

"There is an agricultural revolution going on in China, which calls for higher efficiency, better safety and environment protection," said Gordon Xu, president of FMC China.

FMC now boasts a new center that stretches 22,000 square meters and houses laboratories and office space.