valuestheinput
ofallemployees,
it’scommitted
todiversityand
inclusion,andit cares
aboutindividual
development.”
Khozastresses
thatfarmers
facenumerous
challenges,such
asclimatechange,
diseasesand
destructivepests.
Theworkthatshe
andhercolleagues
carryoutinthe
researchdepartment
helpsensurethatthe
cultivarsproduced
bythecompanycan
thriveunderthe
oftenunfavourable
conditions
encountered
byfarmers.outreach
“Weproducehigh-
yieldinghybridsto
feedthegrowing
population,”she
explains.“Butthe
focusisn’tonly
onproducers.
We’recommitted
totransparency
andeducating
thecommunity
aboutscienceand
innovation.I’ma
communityproject
initiativeleadin
Africa,whereweaim
tomakea difference
bydemonstrating
thepowerofscience
inagricultureto
t h ec o m mu n it y.
“Iseemyselfgrowingwithin
Cortevaformanyyearstocome.
Ienjoytheculture,especially
thecommunityoutreach
initiatives.Givingbacktothe
communityis a significantpart
ofmyownpersonalvalues.”MarKetING
GermaKieser,a marketing
categoryleader,is a brand-newteammemberatPioneerSA,
part of the Corteva family.
Based in Centurion, Gauteng,
she puts her degree in business
communications to good use.
“I joined the team in February
2019,” she says. “For me, it’s
been rather an emotional
journey, but I truly believe
I’ve been sent here to make a
difference in people’s lives.
“Corteva is much more
thanjusta company;youcan
makea differenceinpeople’s
well-beingeveryday.It makes
mefeelhumbletoknowthat
everythingI dodailyis helping
providefoodsecurity.”
Kieserheadsthemarketing
departmentofPioneerin
SouthAfrica,oneofthe
mosttrustedseedcompany
brandsintheworld.
“Asthemarketingdepartment,
it’scriticalthatwedetermine
theneedfora specificproduct
throughresearchtoensurewe
havetherightproductatthe
righttimefortherightcustomer,
orcanmodifyourcurrent
productoffertofittheirneeds.
“It’simportantthatwe
understandwhoourcustomers
are,andhowbesttoreach
themtomakethemaware
ofourproductoffering.
“Myroleinvolvesbuilding
strongrelationshipswith
customers.It’scrucialtohave
therightcommunicationatthe
righttimeonthecustomer’s
preferredplatform.”
This,sheexplains,helps
confirmthecompanyasa
trustedpartnerinagriculture.
“Marketingis oneofthe
mostimportantchannelsfor
one-on-onecommunication.
Ouragronomistsaredoing
exceptionalworkincarrying
outresearchandcreating
contenttoassistfarmers.As
marketers,we’rethevessel
toassisttheagronomyteams
communicatethiscrucial
informationtofarmers.This
canhelpthemproducefood
formanyyearstocome.”- PhoneCortevaon 012683 5700,
or visitcorteva.co.za.
Through close collaboration
with growers, scientific research
methods, and educating the
industry on the latest research
findings, Van Rooyen is given the
opportunity to advance science
and improve the lives of many
growersandtheirfamilies.
reSearchaND
INNoVatIoN
As part of the research team at
Corteva’sDelmasfacility,Suzan
Khozais committedtothesame
goals.A seniorresearchassociate
atthefacility,shestartedworking
forthecompanyin2015.
“Iholda master’sdegree
inplantbreedingfromthe
UniversityofKwaZulu-Natal,
andjoinedtheteamatCorteva
becauseI’mverypassionateabout
solvinghungerintheworld,and
Cortevais leadingintheagri
scienceindustry,”shesays.
Khoza’sroleatCortevais to
executebreedingoperations
intheeasternregion,which
involvestheplantingof
nurseries,pollination,
processing,datacollection
andinventorymanagement.
“Weapplythelatest
technologiestoensurewebring
solutionsasrapidlyaspossible
totheagriculturesector,and
satisfytheincreasingneedfor
food.Weusetechnologysuch
asGPS-equippedplantersfor
precisionplanting,drones,ear
photometryfordatacollection,
andmolecularbreeding.
“Iconsidermyselfaninnovator
becauseI continuallytrytofind
themostefficientwaypossible
witheverytaskIperform.
Workingfora companythat
innovatesrelentlesslyis truly
a dreamcometrue.Corteva
DrMarlene
VanrooyenSuzanKhozaGerMa KieSer9 August 2019 farmer’sweekly 35‘It’s humblIng
to know that
my daIly work
at corteva Is
helpIngprovIde
food securIty’