b'A Philosophy of LifePaul Nselel, CEO of AgReliant Genetics, reflects on his history with agriculture, and how farming is more than a job.Seed World (SW): What is your favorite book genre?Paul Nselel (PN): I am an avid reader. For me, additional perspective is gained from reading books. For that reason, I primarily read autobiographies, memoirs and self-improvement books.To be honest, I listen to most books on Audible to take advantage of my current travel schedule. Most recently, I have read The Culture Map, Range, and How to Avoid Climate Disaster. SW: How many languages do you speak?PN: I speak a few languages fluently including English, French and Spanish as well as two local languages in CameroonBassa and Bakoko. I am also somewhat familiar with written Russian and German, but do not speak them.SW: Tell us about your background! What drew you to agriculture?PN: Agriculture has always been a part of my life from the time I was young.Growing up, my father was a senior manager with a major agriculture company that exported bananas and pineapples to Europe. He allowed me to shadow him in the field often to meet agronomists and learn the ropes. Later in life, while studying in France, I met a man from Nebraska that was instrumental in introducing me to U.S. agriculture through first-hand experience meeting with farmers. He was influential in helping me make the decision to join the industry and I am glad I did because that is when my true passion for agriculture and the people who work in agriculture began. Farming is more than a job, it is a philosophy of life. If you want an authentic and deep, long-lasting relationship, friend a farmer. Our industry is so special because it is not just a jobit is a way of life. This idea of loving the work and living the work has drawn me into this industry and it is where I feel I belong.SW: What is something new you have learned this year?PN: I have known for some time that America is a land full of opportunities and hardworking, innovative people who always find a way. This last year, we have experienced the true story of human resilience. We have been employees, teachers, full-time parents, caregivers and the list goes on. We have done this with this grit and perseverance. In the midst of all of that, my team has been strong. We have used ingenuity and flexibility and have found a way to get a lot of meaningful work done in unique ways. We were able to step back and recognize what is important and the meaningful to farmers. This year I have had the chance to slow down and reflect on the deep, deep love and respect I have for the United States and remind myself that as imperfect as this country may be, it is still ripe with oppor-tunity. The future is looking toward an even better tomorrow. Editors Note: This piece has been condensed for print. To view the entire piece, please visit seedworld.com.SW46/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2021'