Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7660 / SEEDWORLD.COM FEBRUARY 2017 Seed World: What are you reading now, and why? Sean Knapp: I’m actually attempting to get caught up on industry periodicals and news. The year-end period for us is often quite busy. With that, I’ve felt a bit out of touch with industry happenings ... SW: Why did you make vegetables your career? SK: My career within Syngenta shifted to the vegetable genetics portion of our business in 2009, when I had the opportunity to manage two prod- uct lines across North and Central America. I’d had the opportunity to work with vegetable producers throughout my career across the eastern United States, but that product management opportunity allowed me to get a better understanding of the amazing world of produce and what it really takes to feed a growing population, globally. What I didn’t real- ize about the produce industry prior to 2009 is that the people who work in it are simply amazing. Their dedication and passion for what they do on a day-to-day basis may be unparalleled. SW: Favorite vegetable to eat, and why? SK: I’m not sure I can choose just one!  SW: What’s the biggest issue facing the vegetable seed industry, in your opinion? SK: Supporting a stabilized model for producers, while attending to labor and water scarcity. I’m not sure every- one understands how delicate the model is for producers, and the balancing act they perform on a daily basis. As these resources become increasingly scarce, the risk that the producer accepts increases at a very rapid rate. I’m really proud that Syngenta continues to invest in The Good Growth Plan. Through activities focused on protecting our environment, improving working conditions and quality of life for producers and improving production efficiencies, we believe we can make a real dif- ference. I would challenge each of our industry peers to adopt these sorts of initiatives, focusing more on the individual than the “bottom line.” SW: What do you find most exciting? SK: The pace of innovation toward developing higher performing products, from an agronomic perspective, and toward meeting consumer demands. SW PASSION for PRODUCE Sean Knapp, Syngenta’s head of Vegetable Seeds for North America, lives and breathes the world of produce — but don’t ask him to play favorites.