b'SCOTT DOWNEYDIRECTOR OF THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AND PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, ORGANIZATION: PURDUE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSdowneyws@purdue.eduagribusiness.purdue.eduGet Sharp & Get Down to Work!OVER THE LASTyear, we at Purdue have had the privilegeSupply chain issues are another result of 2020 that will have of talking with you monthly through INSIDERS. Its been fun tolong-term repercussions. Bottle-necks in systems, integration think about and relate some of the many issues we work on atbetween systems, storage, safety, perishability, labor, trans-the university specifically to the seed industry and the audi- portation and ownership are all going to receive more scrutiny, ences it servesat least we hope and work hard to ensure thisattention and investment. Additionally, the focus on data and is the case. technologytopics already heavily discussed before COVIDAs we look forward, Im certain our to-do list will still containwill be even more prevalent, if for no other reason than they con-the topics of learning, leading and communication. These arenect with so many other functions of business.fundamental to all of our performance as we bring cutting-edge traits and genetics to the marketplace. But Im just as certain that the topics will evolve because of the disruptions weve all experi-enced. Unfortunately, the greater part of the last six months has been so overcome by COVID-19 that its easy to view the whole year through this mask. This is probably appropriate, though, as it has been a generation-defining moment (incredibly longIts time to get sharp, get educated and get down to moment, as it turns out). No doubt the next generation will be called the COVID generation.work.Moving forward, the business tasks we perform may be the same, but the ways we do them will be different. Our role as educators will be to think about how we can help people like you prepare and adapt. For example, meetings without purpose have never been useful, but tolerance for wasting time in required meetings has reached a tipping point. Decisions about whether to hold or attend meetings will be made with more intention. AndThese topics arent all pizzazz-y, and they dont have simple if youre going to have one, youd better have an agenda, stick toanswers. The trick for all of us moving forward is making the it and end the meeting when you reach the bottom of the list.complex LOOK simple. To do this, well need skills in generating Traveling to meetings will also become a more lenient optionand analyzing quality information to help us assess risk, identify where there is good internet to connect remotely. At the sameopportunities, develop plans and implement them across every time, we will have to carefully create informal interactionsfunction of our businessesall while protecting ourselves and between people. Some of us are perfectly happy being onlinecompanies from things we cant even yet imagine. Doing this and not having to wear pants. Others of us whither without real- using skills and rules effective 20 years ago probably wont work. life human contact. Both will have to be indulged. Online doesntIts time to get sharp, get educated and get down to work. Talk replace face-to-face; its just a tool that will be used more. soon!DECEMBER 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /43'