Paula Pinto on AgTech global leadership and the importance of biologicals
Paula Pinto is a heavyweight Agtech leader. After an initial career in operations and before she was 40, Paula led a global business in specialty chemicals serving multiple industry segments including agriculture.
In 2010 she made a radical career change, dedicating herself to agriculture, by taking a global role at Arysta LifeScience (now UPL). Her successes have come thick and fast. An award winning WeQual member, her work has positively impacted farming communities globally.
A chemical engineer at the forefront of sustainable innovation, she has been at the helm of multinationals for decades as a leader, role model and sustainability change maker. She was recently recognised as a consummate 360 leader, who is customer centric, results oriented, resilient and empathetic.
The daughter of Brazilian diplomat the first sixteen years of her life Paula jumped from language to culture to country. Since then, she has carved an international career in P&L, marketing and operational roles for multi-billion dollar enterprises in specialty chemicals and agricultural solutions.
However, her story has strong parallels with the rise of biologicals; a quest to support farmers and the broader agri-food industry as they transition to safer, greener practices.
What type of leader are you?
I have been told many times that I push hard to deliver results, but with a bedrock of support.
I have always accepted very challenging roles. I believe if you are not being challenged, it’s probably time to move on. After twenty-one years at GE Silicones and predecessor/successor companies, I made the terrifying yet exciting leap from specialty chemicals to agriculture. I had a deep knowledge of silicone applications in different markets and was creating solid growth strategies that were producing strong results. I knew that my managerial skills set was transferable and I was committed to learn the industry as quickly as possible. I developed a resilient inner core as my responsibilities increased with greater leadership roles.
However, I was well aware of the risks of moving industries. It was important that I embraced the unknowns that lay ahead, one step at a time. It was exhilarating with some tough lessons.
Since then, I have led multiple teams worldwide. I am always present. Making time to meet and converse with my teams and peers, allows me to properly support, whilst fostering a real sense of collaboration and inclusiveness. I have been told many times that I push hard to deliver results, but with a bedrock of support. This combination enables individual success allowing many to reach and often exceed their own perceived potential.
You played an important role in opening up the use of biologicals globally?
They provide a tool kit of effective solutions with no chemical residues and lower environmental impact
My leap to the leadership team at Arysta LifeScience could not have come at a more important time. The biologicals business was booming across Latin America and a few other geographies and the concept of integrated solutions between conventional crop protection and biologicals was gaining strength. These incredible products needed to be available across the rest of the world, benefiting millions of farmers, as biologicals are an essential tool for sustainable agriculture. They provide a tool kit of effective solutions with no chemical residues and lower environmental impact, including Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers.
So we realigned the focus through sound strategic growth plans including the acquisition of Goemar in 2014, establishing a strong presence in Europe while adding excellent seaweed based solutions to the portfolio.
We also formed strategic alliances to maximise effective use at a local level and optimise our tool kit of solutions to create sustainable growth programmes. Since the acquisition of Arysta LifeScience by UPL, the focus on biologicals gained even more strength by leveraging the capabilities of both companies and more recently with the formation of NPP, Natural Plant Protection, creating a global leader in sustainable agricultural biosolutions.
As a chemical engineer how did your focus on sustainability emerge?
Integrated Solutions can maximise the ability to deliver food security
Chemistry should be integrated with biologicals, other tools and management practices, driving synergies to deliver food security sustainably. In fact, as far back as 2005 at GE Silicones we were supporting the Ecomagination effort. Although GE was touching multiple industries through this programme, our focus was to develop the role of silicone adjuvants used in conjunction with conventional crop protection solutions as super spreaders and super penetrants in crops, reducing water use and improving yield and spray efficiency.
It was here that I developed a strong sense of the importance of sustainable practices. I became interested in the macro trends in agriculture, feeding a growing population, ensuring food security and how to take care of farmers more directly.
The rise of biologicals, among other tools and practices to drive sustainability, is part of a greater shift in the duty of care of large Ag corporations to people and planet.
You have been involved in many acquisitions and integrations. Can you share some successes?
…two leaders working as one, with mutual respect and the desire to always leverage each other’s strengths
When I joined, Arysta LifeScience was owned by private equity Permira Management. Support was received to fund sustainable growth programmes and to close licensing deals which would allow for future growth. This was very important in establishing a global value-added portfolio of conventional solutions, in addition to a strong focus on biologicals, with an important acquisition which allowed us to expand into Europe and other regions.
I supported the sale of Arysta to Platform Specialty Products, who had the vision to create an Ag vertical within their business. This allowed us to integrate Chemtura, Agriphar and Arysta LifeScience to create new Arysta LifeScience.
From Platform, the business was sold to UPL, and I was appointed Integration Leader for Arysta LifeScience, working collaboratively with Carlos Pellicer, who was leading the integration on behalf of UPL.
This was the most amazing experience. It led to the creation of the 5th largest Crop Protection company in the world. After many months of preparation ahead of closing in February 2019, by April of the same year, we were already operating as one company, while meeting all synergy targets. The success of the integration was due to the collaborative environment that was created, with the true desire to build on the strengths of both companies to create new UPL.
This was true also of the way the integration was managed, with two leaders working as one, with mutual respect and the desire to always leverage each other’s strengths. A purpose-led company was created with sustainability as central to their values and operations. This is how OpenAg® began, creating an agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all, no limits, no borders.
You are a WeQual member, what does that mean to you?
Success means better outcomes for everyone — WeQual
Diversity and inclusion have to be intrinsic through all parts of an organisation. This is why I led the formation of the Women’s Network at UPL. The impact was incredible as it established the focus on gender diversity in the company. Through passion, our work and engaging more people, this network swiftly became a force for good. It was so rewarding and also led to a suggestion that I enter for WeQual recognition.
WeQual is on a mission to achieve 50/50 gender equality at the top of the world’s largest companies. Their mantra is ‘success means better outcomes for everyone’. So, they work with talented individuals and forward thinking organisations. All finalists become lifelong members of this international network, and as a WeQual winner I have had incredible opportunities to meet and be part of a powerful group of women globally, including many 360 leaders.
From someone who has seen the biological markets grow through the years, what’s their future?
There are so many talented innovators out there, they are mission driven. Combined with a growing platform of global ambition, and the industrious attitude of the millions of growers across the world, who are right now embracing change, we have a positive domino effect that together will benefit all.
The current global macro challenges, such as climate crisis, growing population, food insecurity and labor shortages are driving greater interest in agri-foodtech. Biologicals will continue to play an important part. We have a mountain to climb to achieve zero hunger by 2030 — a UN goal — whilst reducing emissions, improving soil health, yields and nutritional value.
There are many opportunities in agriculture to contribute to the global roadmap of achieving UN’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, accelerating carbon sequestration programs while reducing emissions, enhancing biodiversity and supporting overall planet and human health.
Biologicals are part of the solution, offering tangible benefits for the agricultural community, consumers and the environment. In the past year, war and supply chain disruptions have caused a downturn in agri-food tech investments, from a high in 2021, I would suggest 2022 was a nadir for many. This hasn’t been the case for Ag Biotech which includes biological inputs. According to the latest AgFunder report, funding increased to $2.7bn in 2022 a rise from $2.5bn in 2021. It may be a subtle rise, but against the current global landscape, it shows how paramount this market is.
Many projections indicate that the global agricultural biologicals will continue to grow at double digit rates for the next 5 years, although the opportunity can possibly be much greater! Yes, biologicals, like WeQual, bring better outcomes for everyone.
I sense there will be an explosion of biologicals on the market very soon, of every permutation. There are so many talented innovators out there, they are mission driven. Combined with a growing platform of global ambition, and the industrious attitude of the millions of growers across the world, who are right now embracing change, we have a positive domino effect that together will benefit all.