Jim Astwood

Jim Astwood is inspired to bring socially and ecologically sustainable solutions to animal and human nutrition. He is excited about the pongamia bean’s untapped potential to fulfill unique needs in food, feed and value-added markets.

Jim is a Certified Food Scientist with more than 25 years of professional experience in agriculture, food and animal sciences. He was formerly VP of Scientific and Government Affairs at Martek (DSM) working in the infant nutrition, food and dietary supplement markets. As VP of Global Nutrition at ConAgra Brands he co-led the Health & Wellness Marketing program and established ConAgra’s Nutrition Institute. Jim was at Monsanto during the early years of the biotech seed revolution where he was responsible for food and feed safety and was also a Science Fellow. Jim has published 50 scientific papers and has been an active member of numerous professional organizations such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Society of Nutrition.

He earned his PhD in Agricultural & Food Science from the University of Manitoba, where he was a member of the university’s Board of Governors, and where he also earned an undergraduate degree in Genetics. Jim did post-doctoral research at Washington State University before joining Monsanto in 1994.

Jim is very proud of his three daughters and is an avid sailor and hockey player in Oakland, California.