Looking Back, Looking Forward

Friends and colleagues—

It’s been quite the year. I’m looking forward to a new year as much as ever, but the end of this year also marks my retirement from Corteva Agriscience, making this a bittersweet time.

It’s been a unique journey, these past five years at Corteva since Dow and DuPont announced our intent to merge in late 2015. To build a new science organization as part of a new pure-play ag company from the bottom up is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m so proud to have been part of this effort and to have had the chance to shape our culture, our organization, and the market and to establish new ways of innovating together ambidextrously. I’ll carry with me fondly the spirit of our fanatical focus on farmers that we built into the organization these past years.

With Sam Eathington and the fantastic Corteva R&D leadership team at the helm, I’m looking forward to seeing the R&D organization continue to grow and flourish, leading the future of agriculture, continuing to deliver every day for farmers, consumers and the environment.

I’m not going too far though as I’ve joined the new CGIAR System Board of Directors and look forward taking new roles in the innovation space through board and consulting engagements. Aside from checking some backpacking trips off my to-do list—and perhaps making it a little farther afield once it’s safe to travel again—I’ll be seeing many of you in many of the same places in the coming years. Until then, please stay in touch and have a happy and safe holiday season. 

Best,

Neal