How the Farming Experience of Syngenta Group's Leaders Drives Agricultural Innovation

Jeff Rowe's family has farmed in Illinois for 200 years. Five generations who have worked the soil, watched the seasons, and understood that farming is as much about responsibility as it is about results.

"Being a farmer is a sense of responsibility to future generations, to the environment, to the ecosystem, and to stay relevant," Jeff says. "A lot of it starts right here with the soil — probably one of the most complex things on the planet."

Jeff still returns to the farm regularly, and says it never loses its pull. Early mornings, the whole day ahead, the quiet satisfaction of honest work. It's a rhythm that stays with you, and one that informs how Jeff leads today.

That lifelong connection to the land continues to shape Jeff’s focus on advancing soil health and sustainable farming practices that help protect productivity for future generations.

Justin Wolfe didn't choose agriculture, it chose him. Growing up on a family farm in Montana, working the land wasn't optional. His father expected it, and Justin delivered. He didn't always appreciate the weight of it in the moment, but he's never stopped carrying it.

"It rooted agriculture in my DNA, and that's why I never left it," Justin says. "You don't appreciate until later in life how hard you worked. It wasn't easy — but it was very rewarding."

Justin’s background in agriculture informs his commitment to supporting farmers with practical solutions that help them adapt, grow, and thrive. "You don't have to be a farmer to understand one," he adds, "but you've got to listen well."

Steve Hawkins was up before the sun as a boy, feeding cattle on a 100-acre farm in Ontario — the kind of upbringing that leaves a mark. Five generations of his family have farmed Canadian soil, and to this day, Steve and his wife still maintain that family farm. He has never lost the farmer's instinct: finish this harvest, and you're already thinking about next season.

"Farming is the most important job in the world," Steve says. "All of our futures depend on it."

Steve’s connection to agriculture reinforces his belief that innovation in farming plays a critical role in strengthening global food security and helping feed a growing population sustainably.

It's a perspective he has carried through a career spanning decades and continents, and one that still drives how he shows up for farmers.