Cultivating Tomorrow: Jord BioScience CEO on the Power of Playing the Long Game in Agriculture
October 1, 2024 
Editor’s note: “Cultivating Tomorrow” is a special series that shares insights from C-suite executives at leading AgTech companies, presented by AgTech PR. Its aim is to highlight the experiences of AgTech leaders driving agricultural transformation today. In this installment, Jord BioScience CEO Keri Carstens shares insight into why we need to embrace new technologies, like biologicals, and build resilience into our operations to ensure long-term success and sustainability.
Our family farm’s survival defies the odds. My parents bought it in the early 1980s when interest rates and land prices were sky-high. By all metrics – acreage, Corn Suitability Rating, herd size – the actuarial science predicted we wouldn’t make it. Yet here we are, gathered around the dinner table discussing succession planning. This isn’t about farming being easy or a one-size-fits-all success story. It’s about the power of playing the long game.
My parents weathered financial storms by steadily chipping away at loans and making tough choices. They used older equipment, drove used cars, and postponed home upgrades. When crises hit – the late 1980s drought, plummeting hog prices – they adapted. They sold the hog herd, focused on beef, and took on extra work. They prioritized the must-haves that made the farm grow over the nice-to-haves. Sure, some Christmases were lean, but we were the luckiest kids alive. We grew up on the farm with hardworking role models who still found time for our sports, 4H meetings, county fair shows, and family activities.
Biologicals: Agriculture’s Secret Weapon for 2025 and Beyond
This resilience, so crucial to my family’s success, is now more important than ever in agriculture. As we approach 2025, farmers face unprecedented pressures from resource scarcity, climate change, and global competition. Add to this the unique combination of factors resulting in the lowest commodity prices in years, and it’s clear that our industry stands at a crossroads.
At Jord BioScience, we’re tackling these challenges head-on through innovation in biologicals. These cost-effective products, derived from natural sources, enhance the relationships between microbes and plants. They represent more than just a new tool; they’re a paradigm shift in how we approach agriculture.
Conventional wisdom has long held that biologicals can’t compete with traditional synthetic chemicals. But that view stems from applying a chemistry playbook to living organisms with complex genomes, unique abilities, and interactions. Microbes can perform multiple functions in the soil, improving nutrient availability and suppressing pathogens simultaneously. Unlike chemicals that have a single mode of action and degrade over time, microbes can sustain their benefits throughout the growing season if given the right conditions.
The rapid growth of biologicals isn’t just a trend – it’s the future of agriculture. Globally, biologicals boast the fastest-growing CAGR for agricultural inputs, attracting increasing investments from technology providers and input companies. However, this isn’t about replacing chemical approaches entirely. Farmers need all available tools to succeed.
The goal of every biologicals company should be to deliver consistent, high-performing biological products that complement existing solutions. By blending approaches, we can provide farmers with a diverse toolbox to tackle the challenges ahead. Just as the relationships between microbes and plants are crucial for crop health, our relationships with input providers and farmers are built on consistency and reliability.
Trust is the foundation of successful agricultural partnerships. Farmers need to know that they can rely on products that perform as promised, year after year. Our commitment to quality and reliability is unwavering, and we strive to be a partner that ag companies and farmers can count on, especially in times of uncertainty.
4 Critical Areas for Action
As we look toward 2025, meeting these challenges head-on will require doubling down on innovation, resilience, and collaboration across the industry. We must:
- Innovate with Purpose: Adopt technologies and sustainable practices that enhance productivity while conserving resources. Biological solutions are key to fostering consistent and resilient microbial relationships for long-term success.
- Build Resilience: Implement strategies that bolster farming systems and balance against evolving climate and market risks. Foster a mindset of resilience in your team by making active choices about product life cycle management and focusing on long-term success and sustainability.
- Collaborate for Impact: Address challenges collectively by fostering collaboration across the agricultural sector. Find partners whose strengths complement yours and focus together on common ground and common goals for improved product performance and sustainability.
- Maintain Trust through Consistency: Consistently deliver on promises and ensure reliable product performance to maintain trust with growers and partners. This builds long-term partnerships and success.
Despite the headwinds, reasons for optimism abound. Agriculture has always been about playing the long game, and today’s challenges are no different. Previous generations weathered tough times through grit, innovation, and adaptability; now it’s our turn. We need to embrace new technologies, build resilience into our operations, and work together like never before. This isn’t just about surviving – it’s about creating a thriving, sustainable future for agriculture. Let’s roll up our sleeves, share our knowledge, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our farms, our communities, and our world are counting on us. Are you ready to shape the future of agriculture?
Subscribe Today For
