Skip Navigation
Corteva Agriscience™ / News Centre / Commitment to staff and community strengthens Corteva in face of pandemic
Article •  27/7/2021

Commitment to staff and community strengthens Corteva in face of pandemic

Something went wrong. Please try again later...

In its most basic form, Corteva Agriscience is a service provider an agriscience company dedicated to agriculture.

But like so many global companies reassessing how they do business in a pandemic world, from supply logistics to maintaining scientific research progress, Corteva Agriscience has been forced to take stock of not only what matters – but who matters.

Corteva Staff at the Active Farmer Games - Mud Run
Close×
Corteva Staff at the Active Farmer Games - Mud Run

“Every day we come to work to provide a service to our customers, to ensure we are able to provide the products and support necessary to make them successful” Corteva Territory Manager for Western Victoria, Ben Whykes said.  
With the rural community recovering from drought, floods, and fires and then as the pandemic progressed in 2020, it started to become clear that as important as it was to support our clients, we also had to look after each other.  
“Corteva had already teamed up with TradeMutt in late 2019 to support their ‘This Is A Conversation Starter’ work shirts in support of mental health, and we had a lot of anecdotal evidence around how important it was to be able to have tough conversations when things weren’t going so well. 
“Off the back of that we started talking internally more around how we could do that for our colleagues, not just our clients.” 

Recent News

Corteva & its staff: looking after each other

With that in mind, Corteva formed an Integrated Health Management team in early 2021; a cross-function group of staff from across supply chain, sales, marketing, commercial and regulatory departments.

“We meet once a month, and the idea is to identify how we can best support each other so in turn we can support our clients. For example, we have organised mental health awareness training for staff who wish to sign-up, and we’re building a specific page on our website around mental health support options. 

“The key aim of the group is to normalise conversations about mental health – whether that’s personal coping mechanisms or knowing where to point a colleague or client if they need professional support.”

Corteva & TradeMutt: a conversation starter

TradeMutt Shirts: This is a Conversation Starter
Corteva staff wear TradeMutt shirts at Breeza Field Day

Corteva Agriscience Communications Lead, Karen Deane, said the partnership with TradeMutt is one of its proudest community efforts. 

“It was a first for the TradeMutt team as they’d originally been focused on providing work wear to the building, construction and mining industries, but we could see there was a parallel demand for their products and mental health messaging in the rural and regional communities our Corteva team work in also,” Ms Deane said. 

“At the end of 2019 and the start of 2020, we distributed more than 500 of TradeMutt’s distinctive, colourful shirts to suppliers, staff and customers, that were specifically designed for Corteva using our corporate colours. 

“That process truly started a conversation and we could see the incredible worth of the partnership, so solidified it further with the creation of custom Corteva TradeMutt caps which will be distributed in the second half of 2021.. 

“We’re hearing how farmers are sharing worries of their own that we would never have known about otherwise. Mother nature has a huge impact on farming in positive and negative ways, which is particularly challenging, so as a company we feel humbled that the partnership with TradeMutt have allowed us to play a part in supporting our farmers in a new way.” 

TradeMutt Website

Corteva & Active Farmers: the power of exercise

Corteva Staff at the Active Farmer Games
Corteva staff at the Active Farmers Ag Games

Since 2017, Corteva has been working with Active Farmers, sponsoring various sporting activities, and running events. 

Sydney-based Corteva Procurement Leader, Vanessa Deschamps, participated in both the 2020 Active Farmer games, and the 2021 "Run for Resilience" at Temora NSW. 

“I was part of a team of four that headed from Sydney to the Riverina to take part in the 10km race and support more than 230 others who had signed up to the 5km, 10km and half marathon races,” she said. 

“It was incredible to be involved in such a big event and see so many farmers and community members enjoying themselves through exercise. 

“Our ongoing support of the Active Farmers organisation continues because we have the same commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities in agricultural areas. 

“In October, Corteva is again supporting a "Run for Resilience" event in Mangoplah and is another way we can actively show that Corteva is not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk too by promoting physical health and mental wellbeing.” 

Active Farmers formed as a response to the concerning levels of depression in regional Australia and the limited fitness opportunities in farming communities. They run Active Farmers group fitness classes in over 45 small farming communities across Australia. There team of 33 Active Farmers trainers take 2-300 classes every month with 1500-2000 participations. 

Active Farmers Website

Corteva & Delta Ag: Positive Play program for primary school children

Delta Ag & Positive Play

This month marks the return of the Positive Play program, a registered multi-sport program designed for primary school children in regional NSW to enhance and develop their skills in various sports. This program encourages rural and remote schools to come together and promote positive play. The program was co-founded with Delta Ag and now with Corteva’s support has launched an exciting new promotion. 

Primary Schools and Junior sporting organisations within the Delta Ag service area, can win 1 of 10 event packs. The event packs consist of a custom printed 3mx6m high quality marquee, extra-large icebox, two extra-large gear bags plus a $250 Visa gift card to help get their first event underway. 

To enter, the organisation must submit a short video showcasing their club or school and its people. 

“We are excited to be partnering with Corteva on this initiative. The positive Play program provides our smaller rural communities opportunities that otherwise may not be available. To now also giveaway 10 fantastic event packs valued at approx. $3,000 each, demonstrates our continued commitment to our rural communities and families”, Delta Ag Communications Manager Dean Kinlyside said.

Positive Play Website

Corteva, Delta Ag & Sober in the Country: It’s OK to say no

Delta Ag & Sober in the country

For the second half of 2021, Corteva has teamed up with Delta Ag again, this time to raise money for national not for profit organisation, ‘Sober in the Country’. 

Corteva Area Sales Leader for Southern Australia, Andrew Cossar, said the not for profit leads an #OK2SAYNO campaign. 

“This is about creating support for mates who choose to drink less alcohol, or not at all,” he said. 

“It’s a really important campaign for rural and remote Australia and we’re keen to get behind it through selling co-branded trucker caps that will raise money for the work that the charity is doing. 

“They’re a small team of just two people, but they’re making a huge impact on our core client base of busy farmers who are looking for ways to change their behaviour and relationship with alcohol and are seeking connection and support to do so.” 

Sober In The Country is run by advocate Shanna Whan from country New South Wales and works in two main areas – broadscale advocacy and impact via social media and public speaker, and peer support through an online platform call The Bush Tribe. 

“We’re really proud to be partnering with Delta Ag to help change – and save – lives in our rural areas through raising funds for such an important charity.” 

#OK2SAYNO trucker caps will be available at field days and Delta Ag branches.  

SITC website
Learn more about Corteva and its latest community engagement.
IN OUR COMMUNITY