A venture that started in the mid-1960s after some unusual soybean plants were discovered in a farm field has transformed the soybean and corn industries and secured Stine® Seed Company Founder and CEO Harry Stine a spot on Forbes’ 250 Greatest Innovators list.
It was recently announced that Stine was selected as one of agriculture’s most influential genetic innovators, ranking No. 34 among the nation’s most transformative business leaders.
Stine’s nearly six decades of advancing private-sector plant breeding and transforming soybean and corn genetics have resulted in the growth of one of the industry’s largest privately held seed companies in the U.S., as well as more than 800 seed- and technology-related patents developed in collaboration with our affiliated partners.
From pioneering soybean licensing structures and expanding herbicide trait platforms to accelerating high-population, short-stature corn systems, Stine’s leadership has cultivated genetics that have transformed the industry. Today, Stine genetics are planted on millions of acres across the U.S. and licensed broadly throughout global markets.
This announcement comes as the country prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on July 4 and as part of Forbes’ America250 celebration. The Innovator 250 recognizes individuals who have not only invented breakthrough technologies but also successfully scaled and commercialized them to drive measurable, industrywide impact. The Forbes ranking was determined by a panel of industry experts and editorial review, evaluating candidates on creativity, breadth, disruption and commercial impact.
Stine reflected on the announcement and his lifetime commitment to scientific advancement and measurable on-farm performance.
“Our loyalty has always been to the farmer. Science is the tool, but performance in the field is the proof.”
Harry Stine, Stine Seed Company Founder and CEO
Learn more about this exciting recognition in this press release and view the complete Forbes 250: America’s Greatest Innovators list.