WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new executive director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and has been a non-profit leader for more than two decades. CTIC board chair Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger’s combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him the perfect choice for the role, which began November 1.
“Ryan has put his farm background and deep love for nature to work in a career in conservation,” White noted. “He is a skilled organizer, mobilizer, coalition builder and fundraiser. He knows many of our partners. He has implemented on his own family farm some of the very conservation programs CTIC helps farmers and their advisors understand. Finally, he has led projects and secured grants that have provided him deep knowledge of what it takes to put conservation on the ground so it has a positive impact for all the stakeholders involved.
“The week we hired Ryan, CTIC celebrated its 40th anniversary,” White added. “That’s not just a coincidence — it’s a reminder that we have built a legacy as a trusted source of information about conservation agriculture and a history of adapting to agriculture’s changing needs. Ryan is a leader who is uniquely suited for helping set the course CTIC will take into the future.”
Heiniger is firmly focused on new opportunities emerging in conservation agriculture.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to join and help lead CTIC as we celebrate 40 years of accomplishments and adapt to new challenges,” he said. “I’m proud to bring a tractor-seat perspective to this role to help ensure new technologies and conservation programs will ultimately provide practical and profitable solutions for farmers. I am grateful to have such a diverse board of directors, led by Chairman White, and a strong team to position the organization for continued innovations in the years ahead.”
Prior to joining CTIC, Heiniger served as director for America’s Conservation Ag Movement with Farm Journal and served in a number of leadership capacities with Ducks Unlimited, as well as director of agriculture for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. As representative of CTIC, Heiniger will serve on the board of directors of Field to Market.
Formed in 1982, CTIC brings together farmers, crop advisors, researchers, policy makers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, conservation group staffers and other stakeholders to share information on farming practices that can help farmers become more economically and environmentally sustainable. The Center’s staff develops demonstration projects, convenes and facilitates meetings, disseminates research findings, runs market-based nutrient credit programs, and serves as a hub for information on a wide range of conservation farming topics. CTIC staff members sum up their mission as “champion, promote and provide information on climate smart, sustainable agricultural systems.”
— Conservation Technology Information Center
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