Vonnie Estes

I work at the intersection of technology, capital, and real-world adoption in agriculture and food systems.Over the past 30 years, I’ve operated across multinational agribusiness, startups, and industry leadership roles, including Monsanto, Syngenta, and DuPont. Today, I work with boards, investors, and executive teams to evaluate where innovation creates real operational and commercial value and how to move from concept to scaled adoption.I currently serve as Vice President of Industry Innovation & Market Integration at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), where I work across the global produce supply chain to accelerate adoption of emerging technologies. My focus spans plant breeding and gene editing, AI and data systems, automation, packaging, and supply chain modernization.In parallel, I serve on the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) Board and the HARVEST Board at The Yield Lab, where I help guide strategy and investment decisions shaping the future of agriculture.I also host the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast, where I focus on what is actually changing in agriculture and what it means for operators, investors, and the broader supply chain.My focus is straightforward: innovation only matters if it translates into adoption, economics, and measurable outcomes.EducationBS, Horticulture – New Mexico State UniversityMS, Plant Pathology – University of California, DavisRecognitionRosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology, Biotechnology Innovation Organization