Meet Dr. Shoumo Mitra, the APAC Director of R&D at Corteva Agriscience Singapore, where he oversees the development of crop protection and biologicals. Dr. Mitra’s interest in crop health research was sparked by a deep curiosity about how scientific innovation could directly enhance food production and provide food security to communities across the world, especially in Asia, where we have millions of small-holder farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
After earning advanced degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Mitra began his professional journey in academia. He spent several years as a tenured full professor at the California State University, Pomona, where he mentored aspiring scientists and contributed to foundational research in crop health. His academic training spanned multiple disciplines, including Agricultural Engineering, Soil Science, Weed Science, and Environmental Soil Chemistry, an interdisciplinary foundation that gave him an understanding of agricultural ecosystems and the urgent need for innovative solutions.
Looking back, Dr. Mitra credits both his academic mentors and his upbringing for shaping his sense of purpose. Their guidance, combined with his early exposure to the struggles of smallholder farmers, instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility and curiosity. These formative experiences not only defined his scientific interests but also strengthened his resolve to pursue research that addresses real-world agricultural challenges.
“The journey has been driven by a belief that meaningful innovation in crop health can help secure food systems and improve livelihoods throughout Asia and beyond,”– he states.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mitra has witnessed firsthand the impact of crop pests and diseases on the yields of crops and their adverse impact on communities. This early exposure fueled his desire to contribute to solutions that would make agriculture more resilient and productive. Pursuing advanced studies and research, Dr. Mitra became increasingly passionate about translating laboratory discoveries into practical tools and technologies that empower farmers. The dynamic intersection of scientific innovation and its tangible impact on society has consistently inspired him to dedicate his career to this field.
After transitioning from academia, Dr. Mitra joined two major multinational agrochemical companies, where he held a range of R&D and marketing roles with both regional and global responsibilities. “These experiences exposed me to the practical challenges faced by farmers across diverse geographies and allowed me to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world application,”- he says. “The opportunity to collaborate with teams worldwide and drive impactful projects reinforced my commitment to advancing crop health and sustainable agriculture on a larger scale.”
Navigating Differences
Working across the diverse geographies of the Asia-Pacific region has presented both rich opportunities and complex challenges for Dr. Mitra. Having lived on four continents and collaborated with teams in multicultural environments worldwide, he has developed a deep appreciation for the diverse range of perspectives, work habits, and religious values that define APAC. His 15+ years of experience in the region have taught him that embracing this diversity is not just beneficial but essential for achieving collective success.
Navigating differences in communication styles, decision making approaches, and cultural expectations required adaptability, openness, and empathy. Over time, Dr. Mitra learned that progress depends less on imposing uniformity and more on creating space for mutual understanding. By fostering inclusive environments and prioritizing active listening, he has been able to bridge cultural gaps and harness what he often describes as the “special sauce” of diversity to drive innovation.
Delivering Sustainable Innovation
As Director of Research and Development at Corteva Agriscience, Dr. Mitra plays a central role in translating the company’s global R&D mission, which is to deliver sustainable innovation while adapting to the unique agricultural realities of APAC. It translates global principles such as reduced-risk chemistry, biological solutions, and integrated crop systems into region-specific strategies for rice, corn, and fruits and vegetables, which dominate APAC markets. This alignment through frameworks like the innovation process from discovery to product launch and technical education ensures global science is localized via regional trials, influencer programs, and multilingual training assets. APAC teams prioritize integrated solutions combining seeds, crop protection, biologicals, and agronomy, supported by digital tools and precision agriculture to address smallholder challenges, climate variability, and resource constraints. Regulatory and supply chain processes are also streamlined to accelerate product access while maintaining stewardship and compliance. By coupling global discovery with local insights, Corteva ensures its R&D pipeline delivers farmer-centric outcomes, market penetration, and long-term sustainability across diverse APAC geographies.
Supporting Smallholder Farmers in Key
Supporting smallholder farmers in APAC is crucial because they form the backbone of the region’s agricultural output and food security. “By addressing their pain points such as access to modern technologies, crop protection, and reliable market channels, we not only enhance their productivity but also empower them to uplift their families’ lifestyle,” Dr. Mitra explains.
He believes that when smallholder farmers are equipped with the right tools and knowledge, the impact extends far beyond the field. Productivity increases, household incomes improve, and entire communities become more resilient. The opportunity to help drive this kind of generational change, Dr. Mitra says, is one of the most deeply rewarding aspects of his career.
Within Corteva’s APAC R&D strategy, this farmer-centric focus translates into clear priorities. Rice remains central due to its vast acreage across the region and its ongoing pest and disease pressures. Corn is equally strategic, particularly for the advancement of hybrid seed technologies and innovative seed treatments. Fruits and vegetables including potatoes, chilies, tomatoes, and grapes represent a growing opportunity as demand rises for high quality, sustainable, and residue-free produce. These priorities reflect farmer needs, sustainability mandates, and Corteva’s global pipeline alignment, ensuring localized innovation for diverse APAC climates and smallholder systems.
Balancing Farmers’ Needs and Innovation
Under Dr. Mitra’s leadership the APAC R&D team achieves a careful balance between addressing the urgent needs of farmers such as pest management, abiotic stresses, yield improvement, and sustainability and advancing long-term strategic innovation by adopting a dual-track approach. On one hand, the team remains deeply engaged with local farming communities and stakeholders, gathering real-time insights on pressing challenges and swiftly deploying practical solutions that deliver immediate value. This includes the rapid introduction of integrated pest management protocols, crop protection products, and agronomic support tailored to the region’s most critical crops like rice, corn, and fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, the team invests in forward-looking research and technology platforms, such as digital agriculture, biologicals, and precision farming, to anticipate future challenges and drive transformative change. By leveraging regional field trials, partnerships with academic institutions, research institutes, and cross-functional collaboration, the APAC R&D team ensures that today’s problem-solving efforts are informed by and feed into long term innovation pipelines. This integrative strategy not only supports farmer livelihoods now but also builds resilience and competitiveness for the region’s agriculture in the years ahead.
Most Exciting Tech for Crop Health
According to Dr. Mitra, some of the most exciting advances shaping crop health in APAC are reduced-risk products, green chemistries, and biological solutions technologies with the potential to fundamentally transform how farmers tackle their most pressing challenges. Reduced-risk crop protection products offer targeted solutions that minimize environmental impact and support farmer safety, while green chemistries utilize more sustainable ingredients and production methods to reduce residues and ecological footprint. Additionally, the emergence of biological products such as microbial-based treatments and biostimulants provides farmers with innovative tools to manage abiotic stress, enhance soil health, and promote crop resilience in diverse agroecosystems. These technologies not only address pain points such as resistance management and regulatory pressures, but also help smallholder and large-scale farmers alike adapt to evolving consumer demands for safer, sustainable food. By integrating these solutions within comprehensive crop management programs, APAC’s R&D teams are empowering farmers to increase productivity and profitability while championing stewardship and environmental responsibility across the region.
Challenges and Opportunities for APAC
Looking ahead over the next 10 to 20 years, agriculture across Asia-Pacific will face a complex mix of intensifying threats and unprecedented opportunities. Climate change is already amplifying abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, and flooding forces that can sharply reduce crop yields and destabilize farming systems. At the same time, pests and diseases continue to evolve resistance to existing control measures, while the pipeline for new modes of action in crop protection remains limited, creating a growing challenge for sustainable productivity. At the same time, the region must significantly increase agricultural output to feed a rapidly growing population and accommodate shifting dietary preferences, all while operating within the constraints of finite natural resources and increasing biodiversity loss. The challenge is not only to produce more food, but to do so in ways that are environmentally responsible and economically viable.
Yet Dr. Mitra sees these challenges as matched by powerful opportunities for transformation. Advances in digital agriculture, precision farming, and biological solutions are opening new pathways to optimize inputs, improve resilience, and reduce environmental impact. Integrated crop management, including the use of data-driven tools, reduced-risk products, and new green chemistries, can help address resistance and sustainability concerns. Additionally, empowering smallholder farmers with access to innovation, technology, and market linkages can help drive productivity gains and foster more resilient rural communities. By embracing these opportunities, the region can move toward a food system that is both secure and sustainable, ensuring long-term agricultural prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region.
Corteva’s Role in Food Security
Agriscience companies like Corteva play a critical role in strengthening food security across vulnerable regions by aligning innovation with sustainability. “We develop climate-resilient seeds, biological crop protection solutions, and precision agriculture tools that help boost yields while reducing environmental impact,” says Dr. Mitra.
Through partnerships with research institutes, universities across the world, and government entities, Corteva delivers advanced technologies and training to smallholder farmers, improving productivity and income. Integrated pest management, soil health programs, and water-use efficiency practices promote long-term sustainability, while policy advocacy supports access to science-based solutions. Community initiatives further address immediate hunger needs, creating food systems that are productive, resilient, and aligned with global sustainability goals.
Looking at a Climate-positive, Digitally Integrated, and Equitable Future
According to Dr. Mitra, by 2040, the global food system will be climate-positive, digitally integrated, and equitable, feeding nearly 10 billion people while restoring ecosystems. Regenerative agriculture, AI-driven precision farming, biological crop protection, and gene-edited seeds will dominate, supported by transparent, circular supply chains and alternative proteins.
Corteva’s role is to enable this transformation through next generation seeds and traits, sustainable crop protection solutions, biologicals, and advanced digital platforms that optimize inputs and reduce environmental impact. Coupled with global partnerships and policy advocacy, Corteva’s sustainability commitments, such as ensuring all new products meet sustainability criteria, position it as a catalyst for building resilient, regenerative food systems worldwide.
Suggestions for the Next Generation
“To the next generation of scientists, agronomists, and innovators: Your passion and curiosity are the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future,”- he says. “As you begin your journey, remember that the challenges facing global agriculture from climate change and pest resistance to food security are complex but not insurmountable.”
He also encourages young professionals to embrace collaboration, blending scientific rigor with genuine empathy for farmers’ real-world needs. Innovation, whether in digital agriculture, biological solutions, or sustainable crop protection, must be pursued with both effectiveness and environmental responsibility in mind.
“Stay connected to the communities you serve, listening closely and learning continuously,” he adds. “Your work will not only help feed a growing world, but also shape systems that respect our planet’s finite resources and promote biodiversity. The impact you make today will echo for generations so lead with integrity, foster partnerships, and never lose sight of the greater purpose: building a secure, sustainable food system for all.”
