Innovation and Agriculture: Advancements in Biotechnology

Farmers and ranchers are the original innovators, but they can’t do it alone. Innovative solutions from industry peers are vital for agriculture to continue to drive forward. During this discussion, AFBF Executive Vice President Joby Young will speak Sylvia Wulf of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, whose members are at the forefront of developing the groundbreaking technologies farmers and ranchers rely upon every day.

Speakers:

Sylvia Wulf

Head of Agriculture and Environment, Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Sylvia Wulf is currently the interim head of the Agriculture & Environment section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). She is also the Non-Executive Chair of AquaBounty Technologies, a publicly traded aquaculture and seafood biotechnology company. She served as AquaBounty’s President & CEO for five years, responsible for leading their growth and commercialization efforts globally.

Wulf brings extensive industry experience to her new role with BIO, having amassed a distinguished career spanning several decades and across multiple industries – including consumer packaged goods, distribution, and Agritech. She currently serves as the Chair of AquaBounty Technologies and sits on the board of 2Blades, a charitable organization that seeks to address the rising incidence of crop disease. She has served on the BIO Board of Directors since 2019 and as the chair of the organization's Agriculture & Environment Section Governing Board from 2019 to 2021.

Throughout her career, Wulf has demonstrated exceptional leadership in diverse environments, including start-ups, rapid-growth ventures, mature businesses, and traditional companies. Her strategic insight and operational prowess have driven major growth and enhanced market share for many well-known and respected brands, such as US Foods, Tyson, Sara Lee, and Bunge.

Joby Young

Executive Vice President, American Farm Bureau

Joby Young became the Executive Vice President of the American Farm Bureau in July 2022. He leads the AFBF staff, managing across all departments to achieve the goals of the President and Board of Directors and fulfill AFBF’s mission.

Joby has more than a decade of experience in food and agriculture policy, from the halls of Congress to the Executive Branch. He served as Chief of Staff to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue after serving in that same role for the Deputy Secretary and several USDA offices. He also previously served as Chief of Staff in the House of Representatives and as a consultant in the private sector.

Joby is a graduate of the University of Georgia, with degrees in History and Communications, and he holds a law degree from the UGA School of Law.