b'Q: You were also at the ASTA Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. this summer. In advocating for the seed industry, we met with more than 80 congressional leaders. That was quite an experience. Is there any-thing that stays with you from that day?A:Theres a lot that sticks out to me, but probably the most impressive was the group that organized on behalf of ASTAour passion for agriculture and the willingness to spend a day with legisla-tors to tell our story. We all came from dif-ferent roles, backgrounds, companies and sectors within the seed industry, but we organized around one common thread: having a voice for agriculture. I couldnt be happier with how the day turned out.Q: ouve talked about watch-Y ing agriculture evolvefrom Roundup Ready crops to mul-tiple traitsand how that fuels your passion. What first drew you to the seed industry, and what continues to drive you?we offered choice and differentiation to independ-A:Right out of college, I was in the cropents. Those core values remain in place today. Dave (center) and his protection business, launching novel chem- family (L-R) son Elliott, istry in the early 1990s. My wife and I were livingQ: grandson Wyatt, Daves The industry has changed a lot in 20 years. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, eight hours from home,What hasnt changed? wife Karen, daughter with two kids, and we wanted to get back to Iowa.Elizabeth, son-in-law I went to work for Monsanto in the mid-to-lateA:When we started, it was about providingJustin, granddaughter 1990s, when they were launching Roundup Readychoice, but also having the right frameworkCora.soybeans. I was on the crop protection side, but Iand the right people in place to understand the saw Monsantos vision to transform from deliver- business, embrace challenges and drive for choice ing crop protection products to delivering thoseand innovation. When I came in eight years ago, I products through seed. I like to say I was in thewas blessed to inherit that same foundation and right place at the right timeable to get in on theteam. At the end of the day, the core principles are ground floor of Monsantos biotechnology evolu- still trust and transparency. Thats how we started, tionand that carried through the rest of myand thats how we operate today.career.Q:How should the seed industry balanceQ: sustainability pressures, complex regula-GreenLeaf launched in 2005 to support independent seed companies. Youve saidtions and the need for innovation while still 75% of the companys first-year clients aremeeting farmer needs?still with you; what does that mean to you?Yes, its amazing. We celebrated our 20-yearA:It starts with the hard work the ASTA team A:anniversary at Winterfest last year and calleddoes every day. Without freedom to operate, without critical conversations, and without push-out that statistic. I think it speaks to the resiliencying for regulatory clarity, we cant do what we love. and strength of independent seed companies. WeAt Syngenta, our top priority is bringing value and were a new, unproven player in the mid-2000s, butinnovation to farmers. But regulations that stifle DECEMBER 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /19'