“Having a person with the international stature and acclaim as Dr. Borlaug on our Board is a monumental event,” said Douglas T. Nelson, president of CropLife Foundation. “His humanitarian accomplishments through his agricultural work are recognized worldwide and he will bring an exciting new perspective to our Foundation’s activities.”

Known as the Father of the Green Revolution, Dr. Borlaug developed disease resistant dwarf wheat cultivars, using his training as a geneticist and plant pathologist. Adoption of his high-yielding wheat varieties in India, Pakistan, Mexico and other countries is estimated to have spared millions from starvation. His contributions in this area led to his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.

“Dr. Borlaug’s ardent belief in the advancement and application of agricultural technology to combat hunger and conserve natural resources mirrors the mission of the CropLife Foundation and serves as a model for our work. With Dr. Borlaug’s inspiration, the CropLife Foundation will continue to investigate the benefits of crop protection technologies and educate farmers, scientists, policymakers, regulators and the public on their safe and effective use,” said Jay J. Vroom, CLF chairman.

CropLife Foundation was created in 2001 to promote and advance sustainable agriculture and the environmentally sound use of crop protection products and bioengineered agriculture. Through sound science-based discovery, the organization will help global agriculture economically produce safe, high quality, abundant food, fiber, and other crops, thus ensuring food security and alleviating poverty, suffering, and hardship.

Knodle named as new Agrisure Traits marketing manager
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Syngenta Seeds recently announced the appointment of Steve Knodle as Agrisure™ Traits marketing manager. He will develop and implement marketing strategies to promote awareness for Agrisure traits.

Knodle has held sales and marketing positions with Syngenta for nine years. A 1997 graduate of the Univer-sity of Illinois, he most recently was an account manager with Syngenta Crop Protection and directed sales and marketing activities in several Midwestern states. He also has served as marketing representative for Syngenta in Iowa and Illinois.

“We’re excited to bring Steve on board,” said Jack Bernens, head of Agrisure Traits. ”His experience and leadership within Syngenta will help the Agrisure business more effectively bring the broad range of choices and customized crop protection solutions to corn growers.”

Knodle added, “Syngenta is in a position to provide innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of growers. Farmers continue to search for the competitive edge to maximize return on their acres and Syngenta continues to deliver integrated solutions that allow them to be successful.”

Agrisure traits include: Agrisure CB/LL, which protects corn crops from damage by European corn borers and also features resistance to Liberty® herbicide; Agrisure GT, which provides tolerance to glyphosate herbicides; and the Agrisure GT/CB/LL stack.

This farm news was published in the July 5, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.