The Northern hemisphere is welcoming the cooler fall weather, but the ag industry is focusing on bright green field in 2026, investing in personnel to achieve their goal in the new year.
In this month’s ag mover’s and shaker’s column, seed design company Inari named a new CEO, Agtonomy makes board appointments, Sofina Foods Europe reinforces its agriculture strategy, and IFFO - The Marine Ingredients Organisation appointed its president and VP for 2026-2027 term.
To submit people news, contact Ryan Daily, Americas editor at AgTechNavigator, at ryan.daily@wrbm.com.
Inari names ag vet to CEO
Seed design company Inari appointed Lisa Nunez Safarian to the role of CEO, effective Nov. 4, replacing interim CEO Ignacio Martinez, co-founder of the company and board chair and general partner for Inari’s founding company, Flagship Pioneering. Safarian has been on the company’s board since May 2025, where she will continue to serve, and joins Flagship Pioneering as a CEO-partner, the company shared in a press release.
Safarian takes the helm at Inari following more than 30 years in the agriculture industry, working for companies like Monsanto and then Bayer as the president of crop science North America after the acquisition. She was instrumental in developing Monsanto’s seed, crop protection, traits, and licensing programme.
“Inari is built on groundbreaking technology – from AI-enabled systems to a deep IP portfolio spanning traits to tools – all driving a major shift for the industry. Seeing the proven results of the High Yield Designs, I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m eager to hit the ground running with this world-class team," Safarian said.
Agtonomy adds tech exec expertise to board
Automation company Agtonomy appointed Michael Abbott to its board of directors, the company shared in a press release. Recently, Abbot served as GM executive VP of software and services, working on the company’s autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles. Additionally, Abbot led Apple’s Cloud Services division and held senior roles at Microsoft, Twitter, and Palm.
Agtonomy closed its oversubscribed Series B round earlier this week, raising $18m from SpaceX backer DBL Partners, agriculture land manager Nuveen, and other investors to spur international growth and market expansion, as AgTechNavigator previously reported. Additionally, Jake Harris of DBL Partners will join Agtonomy’s board per the funding round.
“Agtonomy is building something truly transformative, bringing Physical AI to industrial markets that are desperate for more automation to make ends meet. I’m excited to join the board at such a pivotal moment in the company’s journey and to support a team that combines deep industry knowledge with the technical expertise needed to bring automation into the field in a practical, scalable way,” Abbott said.
Sofina Foods Europe reinforces ag ambitions
Sofina Foods Europe appointed Graham Wilkinson to the role of group agriculture director to support the company’s “long-term agricultural vision,” the company shared in a press release. Graham joins the organization following a tenure as the CEO of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and previous roles at Arla Foods and Tesco, the company added.
“I’m honoured to be joining Sofina Foods at such an exciting time. Agriculture is at the heart of the food industry, and I’m passionate about working closely with farmers and rural communities to build strategies that create long-term value for them, our customers, and the business. I look forward to working with Ash Amirahmadi and the wider team at Sofina Foods to shape a future-focused approach that strengthens partnerships, supports sustainable farming, and drives innovation across our supply chain,” Wilkinson added.
IFFO appoints president, VP for 26-27 term
IFFO - The Marine Ingredients Organisation appointed Adriana Giudice and Egil Magne Haugstad to the roles of president and VP, respectively, following elections. Giudice is the CEO of Peru fish producer Austral Group and a board member of IFFO’s Latin America board. Magne Haugstad serves as CEO of Norway-based fish producer Pelagia and serves on the board of IFFO’s European board.
“I am very proud to take on the role of president of the IFFO Board as of 1st January 2026. I look forward to contributing to IFFO’s vision of leading the responsible development of marine ingredients globally and bringing my expertise from Peru on innovation and sustainability,” Giudice said.
