John Appel
John is an Industry Venture Partner at Vidavo. John’s international career has spanned multiple growth-focused roles in the chemical and agriculture industries, including President and Board Member of BPS Agriculture, a sustainable chemistry company focused on fertilizer and pesticide use efficiency.
John's Story
John is currently Head of Sales, North America at Biome Makers, an agtech leader aimed at integrating soil microbiology into agricultural decision-making to optimize farming practices and reverse the degradation of arable soils.
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John believes sustainable agriculture holds the keys to climate impact opportunities and that Vidavo's experienced team is well-positioned to capture these opportunities. With an extensive strategic and operational background in agriculture, John brings credible insights and a deep network to lean on, particularly as it relates to the commercialization of new technologies.
John previously held leadership positions at Exacto and Syngenta where he helped shape strategy and consistently delivered revenue and profitability growth. John has worked on multiple M&A teams and executed a portfolio of strategic partnerships with food and ag companies. While at Syngenta, John participated in the company’s selective international leadership program, encompassing innovation strategy, sales management, and marketing in various locations in Europe, Africa, and the US. John’s prior experience also includes cross-functional roles at chemical companies such as Ashland and Avantor.
John is a Member of the Board of Advisors at agtech startup Mariposa Technology. In addition, he is an active volunteer and serves on the Board of Directors for United Planet and the Advisory Board for MicroLoan Foundation. He holds a BA in Chemistry and MBA from Lehigh University and currently resides in Naples, FL with his wife and 3 children.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching baseball, golfing, and fishing.