New agricultural technology doesn't fail in the lab. It fails in the gap between the last field trial and the farmer's purchase decision — in the channel, the stewardship program, and the commercial story that either lands or doesn't. That gap is what this practice is built to close.
The problem isn't the science. It's the path from lab to field. Most AgTech stalls in the gap between breakthrough research and a farmer's purchasing decision — a gap that's as much about trust and sequencing as it is about technology.
Of AgTech startups fail to reach commercial scale. Most stall between proof-of-concept and first commercial sale.
Invested in AgTech every year — yet grower adoption rates for new technology remain stubbornly low because the pipeline leaks.
Average time from product approval to meaningful market penetration. Years in which competitors emerge and momentum erodes.
I grew up on a 2,500-acre row crop operation in Southeast Missouri and have been in ag my entire career. That foundation shapes everything — especially how I advise on commercialization, because I understand how growers actually think, buy, and adopt.
Raised on 2,500 acres in Southeast Missouri — corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, and cotton. I understand grower economics from the inside out, not from a case study.
24+ years at Monsanto, Bayer, and Valent. 15+ products launched as lead. A $210M alfalfa divestiture. Valent Canada revenue doubled. Pattern recognition you can't shortcut.
Embedded in the St. Louis / 39 North AgTech ecosystem. Two degrees of separation from virtually every relevant Midwest ag player — and the warm introductions to prove it.
Most of my work is in agriculture. I also work in food, ingredients, biotech, and adjacent industries — across the United States and internationally. Below is the kind of work I do, organized by who I do it for.
I have launched 15+ commercial products inside Monsanto, Bayer, and Valent. I bring go-to-market strategy, ecosystem access, field-trial validation, and the brand presence that opens doors with partners and growers.
Scaling revenueI have scaled commercial teams and channel relationships. I bring an experienced operator's eye and targeted introductions that accelerate growth without forcing you to add full-time headcount.
Innovation & sustainabilityI have led innovation and sustainability programs inside the largest ag input companies. I help corporates engage innovators, identify partners, and communicate credibly to growers, regulators, and downstream customers.
Portfolio supportI speak both science and commercial scale. I bring trusted diligence, portfolio operational support, and ecosystem introductions to funds investing in ag, food, and adjacent industries.
Mission programsI have run grant-funded ag programs and worked with grower groups on stakeholder strategy. Senior expertise, no permanent headcount, and a clear-eyed view of what's actually achievable.
Channel & brandI have operated mid-stream and understand the constraints. I help ingredient and processing businesses enter new channels, manage brand perception, and navigate a shifting regulatory and sustainability landscape.
A sample of first-of-kind and category-defining launches where I served as lead. The full 25-product track record lives on the Track Record page.
The first reduced-lignin alfalfa trait — improved forage quality, not just yield protection. Built commercialization strategy from regulatory approval through full market entry. Led to a $210M strategic divestiture of the alfalfa portfolio.
Managed a multi-year transition delayed by China regulatory timelines. Designed an extensive pre-approval stewarded field trial program that turned a credibility problem into a launch advantage. Successful North America rollout.
First commercialized trait targeting thrips and tarnished plant bug in cotton — with a novel avoidance mechanism. Built the category from scratch: stewardship program design, grower education, and IPM integration for a mechanism with little precedent.
Jon brings something genuinely rare — he grew up farming, spent 24 years inside the companies that build these technologies, and now sits at the center of the ecosystem where the next generation of them are emerging. That combination is almost impossible to find in one person.
What sets Jon apart is that he's done this work, not just advised on it. He's built the stewardship programs, managed the regulatory delays, worked the channel, and been in the room when the launch decisions were made. That's a different conversation entirely.
St. Louis is one of the world's leading AgTech innovation centers — home to Bayer Crop Science, the Danforth Plant Science Center, BioSTL, and the 39 North AgTech district. Eighty percent of US corn and soy acreage sits within five hundred miles.
For clients, that geography translates into warm introductions, regulatory proximity, and real-time market intelligence. No ramp-up required — I know the players, the history, and the context from decades of active participation.
Explore the ecosystem →Jon's practice is built around direct, senior engagement — you work with him. But agricultural commercialization is a broad discipline, and some engagements benefit from coverage that no single advisor can provide alone.
Jon works within an independent network of senior ag practitioners that collectively spans commercialization, policy, brand strategy, communications, and business development. When a client's needs extend beyond his direct focus areas, he can bring in a colleague he has personally worked with for years — under a single contract and a single point of contact.
All collaborators are seasoned operators with 20+ years of hands-on experience. Nothing is subcontracted to generalists.
Tell me what you're trying to do — your challenge, your team, your timeline. I'll share how I've approached similar problems and whether there's a fit. No instant call.
Most engagements are active within 1–2 weeks of first contact.