Today, as the Chief Science Officer at Verdesian Life Sciences, Kuide understands the importance of agricultural inputs to the growers and retailers along with the challenges in running small businesses. At Verdesian, he leads research and development (R&D) and new product development for nutrient use efficiency (NUE) technologies to make farming more efficient, more sustainable and more profitable.
“Having a keen understanding of what it takes to succeed in the ag world is part of my DNA,” says Kuide. “Rarely a day goes by that I don’t reflect on the lessons and experiences I learned while working with my dad’s businesses.”
With a comprehensive training background in soil science at NC State University, in executive leadership at the University of Notre Dame, and earning his PhD in chemical engineering at University of Florida, Kuide is able to guide the Verdesian team to discover the best technology fit for Verdesian at the NUE space that eventually brings the maximum benefit to the growers.
In his role, Kuide is responsible for providing technical and strategic directions to executive management team for R&D of product technologies in four platforms including bio-stimulants, fertilizer enhancers, micronutrients, and seed treatment Inoculants, as well as people leadership for staff from discovery research, IP development, field development to product positioning and commercialization support globally. He is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). He has also been serving for more than nine years on the International Standard Organization (ISO)’s Equipment for Crop Protection committee to help bring economic and business benefits to the growers in the U.S. and globally.
An avid fly-, creek- and surf-fisherman, Kuide is also an active member of the Duke Forest stream watch program, proving that his love of the natural world extends beyond the walls of Verdesian.
“I am deeply passionate about agricultural and economic sustainability,” he says. “At Verdesian, the work that my team is doing is laser-focused on both of those things. It’s exciting to be able to prove to ag retailers and growers that the two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it is quite the opposite.”
Prior to coming to Verdesian, Kuide held scientist and leadership roles at Dow AgroSciences and at Bayer Crop Science for leading the efforts to develop and transfer technologies in agricultural chemicals and in spray application equipment from the lab to the field. His background also includes novel technology and IP assessment, product positioning and business development, initiating innovation programs and launching programs to improve return on R&D investment.
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