b'Doug KnightRon DePauw Age: 69Age: 78 Location: ColoradoLocation: Saskatchewan Known for: Reminding others of Known for:their big missionto feed the Communicating theworldwonder of scienceDoug Knight has a list of personal rules titled My Business Beliefs he keeps near his office desk. They helped him be a long-time leader and mentor in the seed industry. For many years he held the position of director, After over 40 years as a plant breeder, Ronseeds and operations at Viterra and initially worked for DePauw retired from Agriculture and Agri-FoodSyngenta and its legacy companies for 25 years. He built Canada in 2015. During his career he released overa team of young, fresh, energetic leaders to support the 60 varietiesincluding AC Barrie, which capturedgrowth of the business that he led.over 60% of Prairie wheat acres at the timeandDuring coaching opportunities, Doug would prepare AAC Brandon, the top CWRS variety in Westernus on how to handle upcoming discussions or debrief on Canada since 2016.how better to have engaged in a discussion that didnt go In retirement, he has acted as science advisoras well as it could have, say three of his proteges in their for SeCan. In this role he has coached and men- nomination letterLyle DePauw (director of crop inno-tored a wide range of plant breeding programsvation for Cargill); Chris Churko (CEO for FP Genetics) and researchers in Canada and other parts of theand Ryan McCann (director of North American seed for world. He willingly shares his experience andNutrien Ag Solutions).knowledge to help breeders efficiently move theirWhat are a few of these beliefs? Be humble, train your programs forward, says Todd Hyra, western busi- replacement and manage up.ness manager for SeCan. Knight is a savvy business leader, with a strong vision He regularly meets with new breeders (privatefor whats needed to create a strong business. Hes able and public) to discuss program design, targets andto see potential in people and develop that talent to more. He coaches and conducts workshops on trialbecome its best. This meant coaching young managers design and execution for breeding programs, asto become into strong people leaders, negotiators and well as independent researchers. strategic thinkers.DePauw is recognized internationally as aNow retired and living in Colorado, Knight provides wheat breeder and reviewer of scientific papers.consulting services to clients throughout the industry.He is also currently a director for the BorlaugIf theres one thing in life you hope to do and aspire Training Foundation, established to educate early- to, its helping people grow and become the best they career scientists. can be. I always tried to ensure that everybody under-He says a big secret to success in plant breed- stood the mission and vision, and the goals of what the ing is to stay curious and embrace lifelong learn- organization was trying to accomplish. I spent probably ing. a disproportionate amount of my time actually ensuring Change is happening so fast, and you have tothat people really not only heard the words, but actually stay current. Science has always been a hobby forinternalized and believe them, Knight says.me; its never felt like a job. Making a new discov- One of the things I can recall time and time again ery is like getting a hole-in-one in golf, he says. was always reinforcing the fact that were not in the seed I like to challenge others with how newbusiness; we are really in the food, fibre and fuel busi-knowledge will be translated so that there will beness. When you wake up in the morning, and youre food for all. going to face that tough day, its so important to realize that youre not going to a job in the seed business, youre going there to actually help feed the world.18GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2022'