Sam Eathington, Ph.D., a sixth-generation Illinois farmer recognized as the Illinois FFA Star Farmer in 1986, combines his background in production agriculture with a passion for science and technology in his role as executive vice president and chief technology and digital officer at Corteva Agriscience.
Not only does Eathington collaborate with scientists worldwide to create new hybrid crop variations and crop protection products, but he also works to identify innovative ways to conserve natural resources and create a more resilient, sustainable food production system.
Q: When did you first realize you were interested in plant genetics?
A: While working on my bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I completed an internship with a seed company focused on plant breeding and genetics. Seeing firsthand how scientists and plant breeders worked with crops to enhance productivity and quality and make them more resistant to disease was fascinating. That was when I decided I wanted to become a plant breeder.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your role at Corteva Agriscience, and what is the most challenging?
A: Helping farmers understand the opportunities available with hybrid crops, such as increasing production while reducing costs, is extremely rewarding. To see an innovation in a lab or a field and turn it into a product that farmers use around the world is special. My biggest challenge is wishing we could go faster. I see the problems we’re facing and how technology can help us solve them, but certain aspects of the global food system make it difficult to move quickly.
Q: What advice do you have for FFA members interested in pursuing a career in plant genetics?
A: Be willing to try something new. Explore. Try different internships, talk to people doing things you’re interested in and learn from them, and go after what you want. If you align your career with your passions and motivations, you’ll be excited to go to work and love what you do.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your predictions for the plant genetics industry?
A: We have a growing population, and we have to figure out how to produce more food. We need to do it in a way that isn’t as taxing on our natural resources. The solution is technology, and we have a lot of exciting things coming up in the next decade. After that, I’ll look to the next generation of scientists to lead us forward.
