Syngenta Thrive - 1Q/2013 - 11

Calibration key location on planter

crop protection products into irrigation systems during an irrigation event, rather than making an additional trip across the field with a spray applicator. Currently, calibration of injectors for large center-pivot irrigation devices is a real headache for growers; and every time operators change products, rates or irrigation amounts, they are required to repeat this difficult calibration procedure. I have engineered a much simpler method for getting the chemical injection spot-on with little time or effort. Our plan is to have this new technology available to Syngenta customers in the next year or two. How do you secure the resources you will need to formulate a solution? Before joining Syngenta, I was on the faculty of a land-grant university. I clearly remember how difficult it often was to obtain the resources for even the most promising projects. I would have to network with other faculty, industry contacts, grower groups and federal agencies to obtain grants and gifts to support the research. But because of the strong commitment of Syngenta to research and development, we almost always find the resources for projects that will truly benefit our customers and their businesses or farms. Who helps you along the way? It’s almost always a team effort. Success depends on strong partnerships both inside and outside of Syngenta. The usual roster of players includes specialists from formulation, packaging, regulatory, biology, marketing and sales, supply chain, third-party manufacturers, and the list can go on, depending on the project. Being part of a team that clicks is always fun, and seeing the reaction of customers when they first try out a product or piece of

equipment that I have had a part in inventing and developing is the ultimate reward for me. How do you move solutions from the lab to the field? This process is primarily an educational one. After solving a problem in the lab, whether it is a chemical compatibility issue or an equipment challenge, we need to first educate our sales and technical representatives. Then, with their help, we educate channel partners and our customers. This effort often involves developing white papers, presentations and occasionally videos that teach what the solution is and how to implement it. It is very rewarding to find solutions that support Syngenta products. One of my favorite types of projects is when the solution involves engineering and prototyping new application devices. Even though I am an agronomist by training, my passion since graduate school has always been engineering devices and equipment that make crop production easier. I have had the privilege over the years of designing improved rodent and insect bait stations, simplified calibration equipment, high-clearance sprayer-mounted granular application devices, and even improved pot designs that enhance flower production. What continues to keep you motivated? When I think about which projects have been the most rewarding during my career, I would definitely have to say it’s those that require the most out-of-the box thinking. This attribute may not always be accounted for on the bottom line of marketing spreadsheets, but my colleagues and I know which solutions required the greatest innovation and creativity. That knowledge, along with the support of management, keeps me motivated and always looking for the next big breakthrough solution.

1Q/13 · thrive · 9

Syngenta Thrive - 1Q/2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Syngenta Thrive - 1Q/2013