The seed industry requires a vast understanding of the operating environment, and Advanta Seeds meets all the requirements of this industry. By delivering innovative farming solutions and technology to farmers globally, Advanta Seeds has emerged as a leader in over 40 crops. As the Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Advanta Seeds, Benjamin Marolda has been associated with the company for over a decade, sharing his expertise in agriculture, sales and marketing, and technology development.
The Beginning
Benjamin Marolda has been with Advanta Seeds foralmost ten years, joining as the Global Corn Portfolio Manager, and is advancing to his recent global Commercial and Technology Development Director role, before taking the position of Global COO. Benjamin shares, “I have over 25 years of experience in agriculture, sales and marketing, and technology development. In my career, I have driven the go-to-market strategy at Monsanto and now at Advanta Seeds. My academic background is in agriculture engineering, and I hold an MBA from IAE Business School in Argentina.”
Benjamin Marolda believes in the power of cultural diversity and for this, he encourages his colleagues to share their culture and traditions. “I am Argentinian and enjoy sharing Maté with anyone open to it. I am married and have a family with three daughters. In my free time, I enjoy fly fishing in many different parts of the world but mainly in my beloved Patagonia in Argentina.” Benjamin Marolda adds.
Regional Presence Of Advanta Seeds
Advanta Seeds is the independent seed business unit of UPL Group that operates globally in over 80 countries with 40 crops. “We hold leadership positions in tropical yellow field corn, grain sorghum, sunflower, sweet tropical corn, okra, and canola in different regions.
Our agile organization is deeply customer-focused, bringing innovation to our customers and helping them maximize their cropping opportunities and profitability. With our head office in Dubai, we take pride in our collaboration with local stakeholders, seeking innovative solutions in agriculture and food production for this region.” Benjamin Marolda reflects.
On Becoming A Successful Leader
The seed industry is unique and requires a vast understanding of the operating environment and the impact of climate change on farmers’ work. Benjamin Marolda lets us know that leaders in his industry need to perceive not only the distributors’ and retailers’ needs but also the farmers’ needs. The decision-making process differs from that of most industries targeting the urban population. He believes that leaders in this field need to be agile, vigilant, and mindful of how farmers operate.
“The industry is unique in how we produce our products, as seeds are produced in open fields. So, a massive part of our business is highly dependent on weather management, logistics, and forecasting sales. There is no room for isolated departments to deliver good products. Teamwork and collaboration are important to deliver on time and the right products to our customers. So, leadership in this industry needs to build a cohesive, one-team, coordinated organization, always keeping the focus on the farmers.” Benjamin Marolda shares.
Adaptability To the Latest Trends
Agriculture is unique, and while farmers are savvy for innovation, digital transformation has a different impact than what we might be reading or listening to. Benjamin Marolda mentions, “At Advanta, we are leveraging this digital revolution and new technologies through the potential to improve communication with our customers to receive better and more accurate feedback and develop better platforms to connect, track, and serve our different stakeholders and enhance their experience with Advanta. Of course, we keep on exploring new technologies and digital initiatives to seek better, more efficient, or faster ways to develop products and technologies to serve the farmers.”
Words Of Wisdom For Beginners
Addressing the aspiring professionals of this field, Benjamin shares his path, experience, and what he looks for in professionals when searching for talent to join Advanta. He mentions, “In general, I do not believe in heroes – people who think they can do it all. Heroes tend to minimize the work of all the supporting functions. It is like in football, a goal scorer celebrating alone, forgetting who gave him the final pass to make the goal or the rest of the team involved to make sure the ball reached him out clean in the first place. Hero-driven organizations are risky and unsustainable. I recommend playing your role but always try to be a team player.
As a leader, I have always focused more on the success and development of my team than on myself. This has resulted in building a sense of belonging, allowing all the team members to perform, and developing tools for the different team members with the potential to continue growing their careers. For instance, I encouraged team members to learn and do cross-functional training.”
In the agricultural sector, the farmers are at the heart of the industry. “The seed business is a long-term business, and if you unnaturally chase short-term results, you might create problems in the longer term. In agriculture, trust is essential, so no short-term achievement is worth diminishing the trust you or your company have earned. Always prioritize the needs of farmers, for they are the ones who make our industry thrive.
In short, when starting in the agricultural business, always keep in mind the long-term achievements and the future of us all. Agriculture and the seed industry are not just about today’s harvest, but they are essential to food security and the future of our children. So, let’s plant the seeds of long-term thinking and watch them grow into a sustainable future.” Benjamin Marolda reflects.
Follow Benjamin Marolda on LinkedIn.
Find Advanta Seeds on LinkedIn and visit their website http://www.advantaseeds.com
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