Together We Grow (TWG), a consortium of some of the world’s largest agribusiness interests focused on building a skilled, diverse, and inclusive agricultural workforce, today announced the appointment of its board of directors.
Together We Grow is in the process of formalizing the collective efforts needed for American agriculture to remain a leader in global food production for generations to come. Beginning in 2022, the Together We Grow Center for an Enhanced Workforce in Agriculture will be headquartered at the Colorado State University System Spur campus at the National Western Center in Denver.
Appointed board members include:
- Board Chair Michael D’Ambrose, senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), who founded the TWG consortium;
- Deborah Borg, chief human resources and communications officer at Bunge; and
- Melissa Harper, senior vice president of Global Talent & Inclusion for Bayer Corporation.
The Board held its inaugural meeting on March 3. Board members and Executive Director Kristin Kirkpatrick developed a strategic roadmap for building a more skilled and diverse talent pipeline for American agriculture, and plans for creating inclusive cultures the industry hopes will retain its talent.
“The ag industry is responsible for feeding and nourishing a growing global population, one of the most critical roles in the world, and we know that diverse and inclusive cultures and industry collaboration are absolutely essential components to success as we all tackle that challenge,” D’Ambrose said. “Together We Grow is organized to help our companies, the NGOs, the U.S. government, and the entire industry accelerate the pace of our mutual goal… true inclusion and parity.”
Together We Grow’s 2020 agenda includes the launch of an industry-wide internship program connecting college students with broad-based exposure to the American agriculture industry; launch of new training programs to build inclusive campus environments in colleges of agriculture across the country; investment in promising pilots that prove to be scalable; and best-practice sharing to help TWG members attract and retain the talent that will feed an ever-growing global population.
About Together We Grow
Together We Grow is an agribusiness consortium with more than 20 members, including major agricultural commodities companies, educational institutions, government agencies, and others committed to improving and expanding diversity in agribusiness. The consortium sponsors research and provides a platform to share best practices for building future workforce capacity. For more information, visit TogetherWeGrowAg.org.
About Spur: CSU System at the National Western Center
Coming in 2022: CSU System will open Spur, where innovative ideas and unforgettable experiences come to life at the National Western Center. Spur’s three buildings at the center of the landmark project in north Denver will engage all learners and fuel new solutions around water, food, and health – creating impact on our lives and our world. Spur is where learning is open and accessible to all. Where researchers tackle the world’s most pressing problems around water, food, and health. Where art and culture challenge and surround you. Where rural and urban, local and global intersect. Learn more at csuspur.org.
