John Purcell

John Purcell, Ph.D. has dedicated his life to helping farmers safely and sustainably grow food using less of the earth’s natural resources. In his roles as Chief Strategy Officer and formerly as President and CEO of Unfold Bio, John is continuing this same mission to improve the food ecosystem with more sustainable, fresher, and better-tasting fruits and vegetables. At Unfold Bio, he aims to help farm operators and retailers deliver on the immense promise of vertical farming. During his time at Bayer and Monsanto, John led programs designed to breed and cultivate fruits and vegetables that farmers love to grow and consumers love to eat. His earlier work led to innovations and diverse technologies for important global crops including corn, cotton, and wheat. Prior to joining the food and agriculture industry, John was a post-doctoral researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. John is also part owner of a family ranching operation in Montana.