President and Founder

Michael W. Trimble, Ph. D.

Summary

A leader in commercial plant genetics research with over thirty years of experience in crop breeding and the agricultural seed industry. Mike has been on location, leading plant genetics research teams in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle-East and Africa. His research expertise is in the creation of improved seed products through genetic line development and integration of biotechnology traits. He has been an executive member of corporate business leadership teams in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He is an inventor on patents that have contributed to over $500 million in revenue.

Education

Employment History

Origin Agritech Limited, Beijing, China

2006-PresentBoard Member(NASDAQ Listed: SEED)

Origin Agritech Limited specializes in the research, development, production, sale and distribution of hybrid crop seed in China. The Company owns or leases facilities across the major commercial agricultural areas of China. Origin launched its first entirely internally developed seed in 2003. Origin has proprietary maize hybrids, proprietary rice hybrids and proprietary canola hybrids currently on the market.

Trimble Genetics International, LLC., Johnston, Iowa, USA

2001-PresentPresident and Founder

Established Trimble Genetics International in the USA and has expanded business and research relationships to include activities in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya

2003-2008Board Member and Chair of Program/Product Development Committee (AATF)

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation facilitating and promoting partnerships with public and private sector entities designed to remove barriers that prevent small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa from gaining access to technologies that could help improve food security and reduce poverty.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. - A DuPont Company, Des Moines, Iowa, USA

2000-2001Research Director, Maize - Southern USA, Mexico, South America, Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia.

Led research teams responsible for all aspects of maize product development, integration of biotechnology traits, characterization and commercialization. Also supported trait and technology discovery and development efforts for disease resistant maize products. A leader on the Latin American Management Committee which managed all aspects of the seed business in Central and South America.
Based in Johnston, Iowa.

1999-2000Research Director, Maize - Central USA (corn belt) and South America.

Led research teams responsible for maize product development which included new parent line development, integration of biotechnology traits into elite genetic lines and product/hybrid creation. Also supported trait and technology discovery and development efforts for disease resistant maize products. A leader on the Latin American Management Committee which managed all aspects of the seed business in Central and South America.
Based in Johnston, Iowa.

1997-1999Research Director, Maize - Southern USA, Mexico, South America, Africa, Southeast Asia.

Led research teams responsible for maize product development which included new parent line development, integration of new traits into elite genetic lines and product/hybrid creation. Also responsible for creation of trait integration strategy for disease resistant maize products. A leader on the Latin American Management Committee which managed all aspects of the seed business in Central and South America.
Based in Johnston, Iowa.

1994-1997Research Director, Maize - Southern USA and South America.

Led research teams responsible for all aspects of maize product development, characterization and commercialization. Led major research restructuring and major technology transfer of breeding methods and genetic materials to Argentina and Brazil. Worked directly and extensively with Sales, Marketing and Seed Production leaders in Argentina and Brazil. A leader on the Latin American Management Committee which managed all aspects of the seed business in Central and South America.
Based in Johnston, Iowa.

1991-1994Regional Director, Maize - Asia/Pacific Rim, including research in Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China.

Led major research restructuring and major technology transfer of breeding methods and genetic materials to Japan, Philippines and Thailand. Worked directly and extensively with Sales, Marketing and Seed Production leaders in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. A leader on the Asia Regional Management Committee which managed all aspects of the seed business in Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Thailand.
Based in Singapore.

1985-1991Research Manager, Maize

Responsible for all aspects of research center management at the research center in Princeton, Indiana. This included creation of new maize populations, new inbred lines and improved hybrid products.
Based in Princeton, Indiana.