b'I N D U S T R Y N E W S Delivering the news you need to know. Submissions welcomeemail us at news@seedworldgroup.com. East-West Seed Announces New Public Affairs HeadEast-West Seed has announced Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey as its new group head of public affairs, according to a release. She started the position as of Sept. 1, 2023. May brings expertise in stakeholder engagement, government relations, policy-making and public affairs management from her previous role as executive director and CEO of the Asia Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA). Mays new role will include develop-ing and implementing public affairs strategies and initiatives. She will also advise on industry issues and policy changes with stakeholders.Syngenta Names New CEO, New CFOCorteva and Bayer together accounted for moreJeff Rowe has been elected the new chief executive than half of all U.S. corn, soybean and cottonofficer of Syngenta Group by the companys board of directors. He will assume the role as of Jan. 1, 2024. Erik retail seed sales between 201820 (the mostFyrwald, current Syngenta Group CEO, will continue as recent period for which estimates are available),CEO until the end of the year when he will retire after according to a release from the USDA. There hasseven and a half years with the company. Hengde Qin has been named the new Chief Financial Officer of been ongoing consolidation and concentrationSyngenta Group, effective Dec 1, 2023.of the U.S. agriculture industry in recent decades. AgReliant Genetics Names New CEO, New CFOIn 2015, six firms controlled the majority ofAgReliant Genetics has announced Brian Barker as its the U.S. crop seed and agricultural chemicalnew CEO and president as of Aug. 31 and David Pugh markets. Today, just four firmsBayer, Corteva,started as its chief financial officer as of Aug. 7. Baker has more than two decades of experience in seed and ChemChinas Syngenta Group, and BASF leadership.dominate those markets. Pivot Bio names Chris Abbott CEO; announces expansion of U.S. operationsNearly 1,500 Farmers & Producers Reject EPAPivot Bio, Inc. ha snamed Chris Abbott its Chief Herbicide Strategy Executive Officer effective immediately. Already Nearly 1,500 farmers, ranchers, pesticide applicators,announced, Pivot Bio co-founder and current CEO and agricultural producers from across the countryKarsten Temme is stepping into the Chief Innovation have come together to voice strong disapproval toOfficer role.EPA, criticizing the agencys Endangered Species Act herbicide strategy framework proposal. The agricul- Agrality Acquires Nebraska Irrigated Seeds to tural producers, who called for withdrawal of the strat- Expand U.S. Presenceegy in a letter sent to EPA, expressed grave concernAgrality has announced it has bought Nebraska over the impacts it would likely have on U.S. agricul- Irrigated Seeds to expand its U.S. market presence. tural production and conservation efforts. There wereThe acquisition was made with the goal of growth concerns with the proposal lacking sufficient, afford- and position strengthening in the U.S. The acquisi-able options with which growers can comply. Fortion includes four sites consisting of an office, two many producers, the new regulations would cost theirear-corn receiving, drying and shelling facilities and farms millions of dollars, while others may be unablea multi-crop processing and conditioning site. These to comply at all, jeopardizing their access to neededfacilities increase Agralitys warehousing and logistics herbicides and thus threatening their businesses. capacity by 400,000 square feet or two million bags.122/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'