“There’s a growing awareness that agriculture isn’t just about being a farmer. There are a lot of other additional industries which support farming and create jobs, and careers. Many are looking at the technology side of Ag, whether it’s digital systems, robotics or AI.
“I think we’re at a tipping point where agriculture is becoming cool, so whatever we’re doing as an industry, we need to keep doing it.”
Mr Koch is responsible for Corteva’s involvement in the Young Grower of the Year program – an initiative that recognises and celebrates the passion and innovation of emerging horticultural leaders. The program forms a core part of the Horticulture Awards for Excellence, held each year during Hort Connections, highlighting the fresh energy and ideas that are shaping the industry’s future.
“Hort Connections is such a vital forum for connecting, learning and advocating,” Mr Koch said.
“It allows us to engage deeply with growers, both young and established, and align our R&D efforts with their real-world needs. That kind of feedback loop is crucial in helping us develop the right solutions to keep agriculture sustainable and productive.”
Corteva showcased a number of new technologies at Hort Connections, including Verpixo® Adavelt® active, which provides control of multiple diseases under a new mode of action, and Utrisha N, a new biological product that uses a naturally occurring bacterium to allow plants to absorb nitrogren from the air, providing a supplemental source of nitrogen all season long.
“Using this novel bacterium that effectively enables any plant to capture nitrogen is a fantastic attribute of the product and gives us an opportunity to show how we’re helping growers produce food more sustainably.”
Looking ahead, Corteva is preparing to bring two new insecticides to market through its advanced discovery pipeline and Mr Koch said gatherings like Hort Connections were essential for stress-testing assumptions and refining commercialisation strategies to ensure new products delivered maximum value to growers.
“As always, our goal is to listen, respond and bring forward the innovations that matter most,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s about making sure growers have the tools they need to thrive, now and into the future.”
