Meet Jord BioScience
At Jord BioScience, we believe the future of agriculture depends on biological solutions that growers can trust to perform.
Behind every breakthrough is a team dedicated to advancing the future. Jord's leadership team brings the scientific and business compatibilities needed to move biologicals from discovery to impact, integrating broad expertise in microbial science, product development, commercialization, regulatory strategy, finance, and agricultural innovation.
Did you know?
Jord BioScience (pronounced "yor-d") draws its name from Jord, the ancient Norse Earth Mother and goddess of the land, as well as the Old Norse word for soil, earth and cultivated land.
It's a fitting name for a company whose inspiration begins beneath the surface. Just as healthy soil depends on a complex, interconnected ecosystem, Jord BioScience is unlocking new possibilities by better understanding the relationships that can drive performance.
Born In The Field
The story of Jord BioScience begins with founder Dr. Linda Kinkel and her team at the University of Minnesota, whose decades of research challenged conventional thinking about biological discovery.
Studying agricultural, prairie and forest ecosystems around the world, they uncovered a fundamental insight: microbial performance isn't determined by function alone. It's shaped by how microbes interact with one another and the environments in which they live.
That discovery became the foundation for Jord's ecology-guided scientific framework. Combined with a proprietary collection of more than 6,500 microbial isolates, advanced analytics and decades of biological expertise, it enables Jord to develop biological products and partner solutions designed for more consistent field performance.
Leadership Team
Dr. Keri Carstens
President, CEO & Member of the Board
Keri leads Jord's strategy and commercialization efforts, helping translate breakthrough science into scalable solutions for the agricultural industry.
Global leader in Seed Treatment, Regulatory, Sustainability efforts at Corteva 14 years
Global commercial team for Corteva’s Seed Applied Technologies and Biologicals portfolios
Recognized industry expert in product development and regulatory – Past Chair, ASTA Seed Treatment Committee
M.S. Toxicology & Ph.D. Toxicology and Entomology, Iowa State University; active family farm, volunteer faculty at Iowa State University
Dr. Linda Kinkel
Founder, Chief Science Officer
Linda’s pioneering research laid the foundation for Jord’s technology and continues to shape the company’s scientific vision.
Over 35 years of leadership in microbial science for crop health and productivity.
Global thought leader in microbiome science in industry and academic.
Deep understanding of microbial products and indigenous microbiomes
B.S. in Biology, St. Olaf; M.S. Biostatistics, M.S. Plant Pathology, Ph.D. Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin; Post-doctoral Researcher, University of California-Berkeley.
Dr. Briana Kozlowicz
Chief Product Development Officer
Briana leads product development and operational execution helping accelerate microbial innovation from discovery through commercialization.
Global leader with 13 years of experience at Cargill, leading in Product Development and Microbiome Innovation
Deep experience in building and managing commercial products for feed, food, health, and industrial sectors
Recognized expert in microbial physiology and microbial genetics
Ph.D. Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Pathobiology, University of Minnesota
Rob DeWolfe
Chief Financial Officer
Rob oversees the financial strategy and operational planning that support Jord's growth and long-term value creation.
Former Partner at Growth Operators. 60-person professional service firm specializing in Finance and HR based in Minneapolis, MN
Experienced CFO who has helped both small and large organizations on their growth journey
Over 25 years’ experience in financial and operational leadership positions
University of St. Thomas, BS Accounting
Adam Bolton
Strategic Accounts Manager
10+ years of experience in plant science, technology commercialization, and strategic partnerships
Managed a portfolio of >300 partner accounts and negotiated over 100 commercial and collaborative agreements as University Technology Licensing Officer
Former plant breeder and product development scientist at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, advancing innovative agricultural technologies from research through market adoption
Ph.D. Plant Breeding, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Board of Directors & Advisors
Our board brings deep expertise across agriculture, biotechnology, commercialization and investment — helping guide Jord's growth and long-term vision.
Kip Pendleton
Chair of the Board
Kip Pendleton brings decades of leadership experience across agriculture, food, and technology-driven businesses. He has led four companies ranging from emerging ventures to organizations with more than 800 employees and has served as Chair or Board Member for eight agtech companies. Throughout his career, Kip has focused on commercializing and scaling innovative technologies that create value for agriculture and food systems.
Dr. Peter Innes
Board of Directors
Dr. Peter Innes has more than 35 years of experience in agribusiness and biotechnology, with deep expertise in bringing biological solutions to market. He previously served as President, CEO, and Chairman of Becker Underwood, which was acquired by BASF in 2012. Throughout his career, Peter has held leadership positions across the industry and served on numerous corporate boards.
Erik Torgerson
Board of Directors
Erik Torgerson has more than 30 years of experience in investment management, growth strategy, and capital formation. As a former Partner and Senior Advisor at Norwest Equity Partners, he focused on growth financings, recapitalizations, and acquisitions across agriculture and related industries. Today, Erik works closely with leadership teams to accelerate growth and serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards.
Dr. John Atkin
Board of Directors
Dr. John Atkin has over 40 years of experience in agricultural leadership, including over a decade as Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta following a key role as a member of the leadership team that created the company in 2000. Following retirement, he has remained highly active in the industry, both as a member of the board of multiple companies as well as on the board of multiple investment firms. In addition to his role in supporting the development of diverse agricultural companies, John and his wife have a charitable foundation that helps disadvantaged children in Africa.
A Legacy of Progress
1990s
Discovering the Power of Microbial Interactions
Led in part by pioneering scientist Dr. Linda Kinkel, research into microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions revealed a fundamental insight: microbes don't function in isolation.
These discoveries laid the scientific foundation for Jord's ecology-guided approach to biological discovery.
2000s
Developing an Ecology-Guided Framework
Research expanded across agricultural, prairie and forest ecosystems to better understand how microbial interactions, environmental conditions and agricultural practices influence biological function in real-world systems.
This work established the scientific framework and proprietary microbial collection that continue to power Jord's technology today.
2010s
Transforming Discovery into Technology
Years of ecological research, field validation and bioprospecting transformed decades of discovery into a proprietary technology platform.
With the formation of Jord BioScience and key technology licensing agreements in place, decades of discovery became a commercial technology platform.
2020s
Turning Science into Commercial Impact
Jord expanded its scientific and commercial capabilities, launching customer collaborations and demonstrating the value of its ecology-guided technology across real-world agricultural applications.
Field trials demonstrated significant yield benefits, helping drive early commercial revenue and the expansion of Jord's laboratory and testing capabilities.
Help Shape a More Reliable Future
Whether you're looking to improve an existing product, develop differentiated crop input solutions or explore new opportunities in biological innovation, Jord can help.