The World Food Prize Foundation

2019 Borlaug Dialogue Speakers

Mr. James Collins

CEO, Corteva Agriscience

James C. Collins, Jr. is Chief Operating Officer of the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont and was named the Chief Executive Officer-Elect for Corteva Agriscience™ in September 2018. He is leading the separation of Corteva from DowDuPont which is expected to occur by June 1, 2019, at which time, he will become CEO.

Prior to his role at DowDuPont, Mr. Collins was executive vice president of DuPont with responsibility for the company’s Agriculture segment, which included DuPont Pioneer and Crop Protection.

Mr. Collins joined DuPont as an engineer in 1984 and began his career in DuPont Manufacturing. He held positions in engineering, supervision and business management at a variety of plant sites. In 1993, he joined the Agriculture Sales & Marketing Group as a sales representative and product manager. Mr. Collins then served in a variety of roles across the globe, supporting DuPont’s seed and crop protection businesses. From 2004 to 2010, he was responsible for DuPont Crop Protection first as vice president and general manager, and then president.

Mr. Collins studied at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee, and received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He also received his MBA from the University of Delaware in Marketing with a focus on International Business. He currently serves on the board of directors for CropLife International and the U.S. China Business Council.

He also serves on the advisory board for the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Tennessee Loan Oaks Farm Advisory Council and the board of trustees of the Hagley Museum and Library. He is also a Champion of the Crop Trust’s Food Forever Initiative.

A supporter of youth education and leadership, Mr. Collins served on the executive board of the Chester County Council Boy Scouts of America and has received an honorary American FFA Degree for his efforts to promote Agriculture education with youth in the United States.

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