Thirty-year agriculture veteran Ron Wulfkuhle, head of GreenLeaf Genetics, has been appointed as the new head of Syngenta’s Enogen corn enzyme technology division. He will replace 35-year Syngenta veteran Jack Bernens who is retiring at the end of this year. Syngenta reports that Bernens was instrumental in the establishment and growth of the Enogen business.

Wulfkuhle was raised on a family farm in Kansas and attended Kansas State University. In 1984, he began his career as a sales rep for Arkansas-based Ciba-Ceigy and from there served in various sales and marketing positions for a number of commercial units and legacy companies of Syngenta. In his most recent position, he headed-up the company’s GreenLeaf™ business after it was fully acquired by Syngenta in 2010.

“Ron is a tremendous colleague and well-respected leader at Syngenta,” said Jeff Rowe, president of global seeds and North America, Syngenta. “His more than three decades of experience in this industry make him the perfect candidate to continue expanding access to Enogen, growing adoption of innovative initiatives like the Ethanol Grower Advantage, and further building demand for Earth-friendly American ethanol.”

Wulfkuhle stated, “Syngenta is proud to support and promote corn ethanol production, an industry that is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump, improve the environment with lower emissions and grow the economy with jobs that can’t be outsourced. It’s my pleasure to continue – and grow – this commitment.”

Enogen corn enzyme technology is an in-seed innovation available from Syngenta that features the first biotech corn output trait designed to enhance ethanol production. It creates a win-win-win scenario by adding value for ethanol plants, corn growers and rural communities.