Cristine Handel

Cristine Handel serves as the Global Sustainability Head at Valent BioSciences since August 2023, leading sustainability initiatives within a key subsidiary of the Sumitomo Group. Cristine also acts as a Fractional COO adviser at New West Genetics and holds a position on the Management Board of The Yield Lab Institute until June 2024. Prior experience includes leading global business development and sustainability efforts in the vegetable and flowers sector at Syngenta and overseeing marketing and sustainability strategies at CoverCress Inc. From 2006 to 2015, Cristine worked at Banco Triangulo SA, managing sustainability projects and marketing departments. Earlier roles included serving on the Executive Board of Instituto Alair Martins and as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. Academic credentials include a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota, along with an Executive Education degree from The Wharton School, and a Master's in Plant Genetics and a Bachelor's in Agronomy Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.