RiceTec announces the retirement of Dr. José Ré and appoints Dr. Amitabh Mohanty as new Head of Global R&D

Since its inception in 1988, RiceTec has been at the forefront of sustainable rice agriculture, continually seƫng new standards in the industry. Dr. José Ré, a key figure on the company’s leadership team, is retiring from his role of Global Head of Research and Development by end of March 2024.

As we bid farewell to Dr. Re, it is an opportunity to acknowledge the legacy he leaves behind. Under his leadership, the RiceTec R&D program has flourished globally and positioned the company as a leader in sustainable rice agriculture with a market‐leading porƞolio of commercial hybrids that were launched in India, US, Mercosur, and various export markets. His vision and relentless pursuit of excellence have driven the company to new heights as well as shaped the wider rice seed industry.  

Ré's influence extends well beyond RiceTec. He has also served on the Boards of the International Seed Federation and the American Seed Trade Association, which are the voice of the global and US seed industry with a mission to create the best environment for the global movement of healthy, quality seed, and promote plant breeding and innovation in seeds. His tenure on various committees, including more than eight years on the Illegal Seed Practices Coordination Group and nearly 11 years on the Intellectual Property Coordination Group, has been instrumental in lending a voice to the more than 7,000 members in 70 countries. In 2015 Jose was appointed by the US Agriculture Secretary to the US Plant Variety Protection Board, where he served representing the seed industry sector.

Reflecting on Ré's tenure, CEO Karsten Neuffer remarked, ″José's 19‐year tenure at RiceTec has been characterized by extraordinary leadership and visionary foresight, consistently steering us towards groundbreaking achievements in sustainable rice agriculture. We wish him all the best in his well‐deserved retirement.″

Succeeding Dr. Ré will be Dr. Amitabh Mohanty as the new Head of Global Research and Development. An experienced R&D leader with a demonstrated history of innovation and product development, Dr. Mohanty joins us in our vision of a sustainable rice agriculture that creates more value for farmers, consumers, and the planet.  

As a member of the executive leadership team, Dr. Mohanty will play a pivotal role in driving forward product development, aligning research initiatives with market demands, and upholding RiceTec’s commitment to sustainability. His expertise will be invaluable in translating RiceTec’s strategy into an actionable R&D agenda, a high‐performing product pipeline, overseeing transformation of the global breeding organization, guiding trait discovery and development, and advancing gene editing efforts.  

Before joining RiceTec, Dr. Mohanty served at Corteva Agriscience as Leader of Global Biotech Operations, Trait Discovery Operations Leader, and Program Leader, Ag Productivity, and Insect Control Traits. His contributions there were key to the success of their trait pipeline. Dr. Mohanty brings rich experience and expertise in trait discovery, technology, and product development in rice. His domain knowledge is well recognized by external peers. He was invited to serve as a member of the Genome engineering Task Force of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. Of India.  

Dr. Mohanty holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the Department of Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Delhi South Campus, India, and did his post‐doctoral studies at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York. He is a contributor to scientific literature with numerous journal articles and patents to his name, as well as a rich history of participation in scientific conferences and symposiums.

Dr. Mohanty’s expertise promises to continue our legacy of innovation in sustainable rice agriculture. We look forward to this new era of growth and discovery, firmly committed to our mission for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and the planet.