Jon Lightner

Jon is a broadly trained biotechnology practitioner with deep experience in building and developing leading research teams in agricultural biotechnology.

Over 25 years of experience as a science and engineering practitioner, manager and executive leader with a track record of inventing, developing, and commercializing technologies that empower farmers. I’ve applied my training in biology, chemistry, engineering and business to lead technology teams and businesses in developing genetic, informatic and device engineering solutions that solve farmers’ problems. As a farmer myself I’m driven by a passion to create and apply technologies that deliver at the farm level, to support positive change and to help meet the global challenges of food security and climate change.

Jon holds a B.S. in Biology from York College of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Washington State University, an M.E. in Systems Engineering from Iowa State University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa.