Dr. John Purcell has dedicated nearly three decades to helping farmers safely and sustainably grow food using less of the earth’s natural resources. John is currently the Head of Vegetable Seeds R&D, Senior Vice President and Distinguished Science Fellow for Bayer Crop Science. In this role he works closely with teams of researchers and scientists looking at ways to breed and cultivate vegetables that are more appealing, nutritious and can be grown using fewer resources. 

Over the course of his career at Monsanto, John’s work and research has taken him to more than 35 countries around the world to work with and learn from farmers in their fields. His prior roles at Monsanto include Hawaii Technology and Business Lead and Global Technology Development Lead for Monsanto Vegetables, as well as several other roles in the Monsanto Technology organization in which he contributed to advancements in many diverse crops including corn, cotton and wheat. Prior to joining Monsanto, John was a post-doctoral researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture.

His Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology was granted from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and focused on studies in Insect Biochemistry. He is an inventor on several patents and an author of numerous scientific papers, reviews and book chapters. He is often invited to speak on agricultural technologies at venues around the world. John’s love for agriculture also extends to his personal life, where he is a part owner of a family ranching operation in Montana.