New director brings deep innovation marketplace experience to company developing new, natural weed control options for farmers and consumers
An agricultural technology company focused on providing sustainable and natural herbicide solutions, Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions, Inc., has announced that Dr. Peter Eckes, former President of BASF, has joined its board and will serve as its chairperson. Eckes led Crop Protection R&D, Seed and Trait R&D and Regulatory in the Agricultural Solutions division.
Harpe aims to support and accelerate Harpe’s efforts to meet the critical need for the next generation of weed control and consumer demands for more natural inputs. Eckes assumes board leadership from Aidan J. Connolly, President of AgriTech Capital, who will remain as a Harpe Bioherbicide board member.
“We’re thrilled to bring Peter’s vast, global experience developing and delivering innovation to our mission of creating new, natural weed control options for farmers and consumers,” said Bill Buckner, CEO of Harpe Bioherbicide.
Eckes’ extensive experience in the agricultural industry provides a unique perspective on bringing innovation to the modern agriculture marketplace at scale without losing sight of farmer and consumer needs.
Additional Harpe Bioherbicide board members include CEO Buckner; Kip Tom, CEO of Tom Farms and former UN Ambassador; Robb Fraley, former CTO for Monsanto Co.; Chad Brommer, Harpe Bioherbicide co-founder and CTO; and Daniel Pepitone, Harpe Bioherbicide co-founder and COO.
Besides serving as the Board chair, Eckes will chair the company’s scientific advisory committee, which includes Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University; Stephen Powles, Professor at University of Western Australia; and Wesley Everman, Associate Professor and Extension Weed Specialist at North Carolina State University.
Through wide-spectrum control of broadleaf and grass seeds or weeds, the platform of Harpe Bioherbicide products will deliver new opportunities for organic agriculture through a series of all natural herbicide formulations for pre, post and desiccation use patterns. In addition, a series of tailored Harpe Bioherbicide pre and tank mix formulations will improve control of tough-to-kill weeds, including those resistant to current synthetic chemistries, facilitating the reduction, replacement, and enhancement of synthetic herbicides used in row and specialty crop, and commercial markets.
