136 / SEEDWORLD.COM DECEMBER 2018 Verdesian Life Sciences has expanded its research pipeline by opening a greenhouse facility at Duke University to develop early technology validation screening for agricultural nutrient use efficiency (NUE) technologies. Bayer and Genedata announced the extension of their long- term partnership. Genedata supports Bayer’s Crop Science Division to digitalize R&D processes and this extended partnership now includes a license to the Genedata Selector platform to support Bayer’s global discovery process and data management efforts. S&W Seed Company announced that it has created a joint venture with Canadian-based AGT Food and Ingredients (“AGT”) subsidiary, AGT Foods Africa, to form a new company registered in South Africa to operate under the name of SeedVision SA. Clariant and SABIC, two world leaders in chemicals, jointly announced the signing of a governance agreement that determines the principles of Clariant’s future governance, defines SABIC’s position as a strategic anchor shareholder and confirms Clariant’s independence as a publicly-listed company under Swiss corporate governance. PEOPLE NEWS Advanta Seeds, a global agriculture company specializing in seeds and agricultural solutions, announced Barry Lubbers as Business Director for North America. Lubbers is a proven leader in agricultural sales, marketing and business development. He has over 25 years of experience matching product solutions to grower needs for improved agricultural production and profitability. Lewis Lydon – considered one of the Australian onion industry’s biggest supporters – was awarded the 2018 Reg Miller Award at the Onions Australia annual conference in Ulverstone. January 2019 marks Lydon’s 30th anniversary in the vegetable seed industry as a plant breeder focused primarily on allium crops. AgriThority an agricultural science consultancy specializing in accelerating new technologies to commercialization in markets around the world, welcomed AJ Ornellas as account manager for Brazil and Latin America. The company also announced the addition of Dr. Ryan Dierking as research scientist. Anuvia Plant Nutrients named Paul Duncan to the newly created position of Director of Sustainability. In his new position, Duncan will advance Anuvia’s commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability. AgBiTech announced that Scott Tefteller has been appointed Vice President U.S. Sales & Marketing to lead the execution of the commercial strategy in the U.S. Tefteller is a senior industry executive who was most recently with Syngenta U.S. where his last role was heading the Southern and East Coast commercial unit. Wilbur-Ellis Company, LLC, has announced that starting November 1, Mark Ripato will take over as its Agribusiness division president. Julia Engler recently joined Vive Crop Protection in the newly-created position of Eastern Regional Sales Manager and Vicki Dekkers was promoted to Central Regional Sales Manager. Both