Farmer’s Weekly – 09 August 2019

promotionalarticle

or Bt-technologies. Our research

enables informed decision-

making in South Africa and, in

future, other African countries.”

global reach

Corteva’s research hub is part of a

cluster of other global technology

centres that contribute to the

research of new products.

“Our contribution also

supports other continents, and

in some cases, helps predict

or guide crop management

in specific regions,” explains

Van Rooyen. “We’re involved

in new trait discovery projects

and coordinate the non-target

component of our research in

South Africa. Our responsibilities

at the insectary also include

the mass-rearing of pest insects

for research purposes.”

Over and above her research

to enable local and global

growers to produce food more

profitably, Van Rooyen plays an

active part in industry forums.

“These deal with the outbreak

of new pests such as fall

armyworm, as well as insect

resistance against current

pest control,” she says.

T

o achieveitsgoals,Corteva

harnessesthetalentsof

womenandmenwho

excelintheirfields.Thesegoals

includehelpingfarmsand

farmersflourishbyforging

meaningfulrelationshipsthat

advancetheagriculturalindustry.

TheaimofCortevaand

itsbrandsis tobethemost

trustedpartneringlobaland

localagricultureandthefood

communitybyearningthe

confidenceofthosewhoproduce

andthosewhoconsume.To

achievethis,Cortevaemployees,

suchasthethreewomen

featuredinthisarticle,are

empoweredtoactwithspeed

andflexibility,whileoperating

withinwell-articulatedvalues

andmeasuresofsuccess.

Toconstantlystayaheadof

thecurve,theteamatCorteva

constantlyinnovate,drawing

upondiversityinthebroader

industryandagriculture

sectorsandtechnologies.

FIelD ScIeNceTacKleS

INSecT ISSUeS

Studyingtheimpactthat

insectshaveoncropsand

findingsustainablesolutions

is onlyoneofthetasksthat

DrMarlenevanRooyenand

herteamattheCortevaDelmas

ResearchHubofAfricaand

theMiddleEastperform.

“I’mtheteamleaderofthe

insectary[insect-rearingfacility],

whichformspartoftheResearch

HubthatsupportsCorteva

anditsgrowers.Thisincludes

Pioneer,Pannarandourcrop

protectionbrands,”shesays.

VanRooyen,whoholdsa

PhDinEnvironmentalSciences

(IntegratedPestManagement),

hasbeenpartoftheCorteva

teamsinceSeptember2011.

Establishedin2014,the

insectaryis a criticalpartof

Corteva’sglobalresearchand

operationsinAfrica,given

theinsectpeststhatgrowers

faceonthecontinent.

Asa fieldscientistspecialising

inentomologyattheresearch

centre,VanRooyengreatly

enjoysworkingforCorteva.

“Ipersonallyalignstrongly

withthecompany’smission: our

workis dedicatedtoenabling

growerstoincreasequality food

production,ensuringprogress for

generationstocome,”shesays.

“TheCortevaDelmasResearch

Hubprovidestechnicalguidance

basedonsolidresearch.This

is tohelpcustomersmake

themostofeveryhectare

anddealwithinsectpests.

“Theresearchfacilityis

whereCortevadevelopsnew

technologyandevaluatesthe

currentportfolio.Ourapproach

encompassesfarmmanagement

practices,seed-applied

technologies,andcropprotection,

ABOVE:

Corteva’s insectary

mass-rears

pest insects for

research purposes.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Diversityin theworkplaceat topagricultural

companiessuchas Cortevabringsmoreideas,

skillsandcreativityto thetable.

Creating a

better world

through skills

and diversity

34 farmer’sweekly 9 August 2019