Biome Makers names head of commercial for North America

Biome Makers, global ag tech leader in soil health analysis, has hired John Appel as head of commercial-North America. He will lead business development efforts and accelerate Biome Makers’ business growth strategy.

“Biome Makers is seeing a surge in demand for BeCrop technology as more farmers, consultants, ag input manufacturers, and retailers seek out cost-effective and data-driven solutions for soil health, crop growth and product development,” Adrian Ferrero, CEO, and co-founder of Biome Makers, said in a news release. “John will support scaling and supporting new partnerships, and his expertise will help us respond to the increasing demand, allowing businesses to utilize BeCrop and thrive in the agri-food system.”

Prior to joining Biome Makers, Appel’s international career spanned multiple growth-focused roles in the chemical and agriculture industries, including most recently as president and board member of BPS Agriculture, a sustainable chemistry company focused on fertilizer and pesticide use efficiency.

Appel previously had leadership positions at Exacto and Syngenta, where he helped shape their strategic agendas and consistently delivered double-digit revenue and profitability growth. While at Syngenta, Appel participated in the company’s selective international leadership program, encompassing innovation strategy, sales management and marketing in various locations in Europe, Africa, and the U.S. His prior experience also includes cross-functional roles at chemical companies such as Ashland and Avantor.

Appel is a Venture Partner at Vidavo Ventures and a member of the board of advisors at ag tech startup Mariposa Technology. He is an active volunteer and serves on the board of the directors for United Planet and the advisory board for MicroLoan Foundation.  He has bachelor’s degree in chemistry and an MBA from Lehigh University.

“Soil intelligence is the next frontier of ag tech and a critical enabler of the success of both precision agriculture and biological inputs, which are critical to farmer profits and a sustainable future,” Appel said in the release. “I’m excited to work with our partners and the Biome Makers team as we scale up and unlock the full potential of BeCrop technology.”