Wiebbecke Selected as Senior Director of Research for ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation

January 26, 2023 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa – The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) welcomes Christie Wiebbecke, Ph.D., as the senior director of research for ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI). After nearly two decades in research and development with an emphasis in soybean breeding, Christie assumes leadership of the nationally recognized research team.

“I am thrilled to join ISA’s RCFI serving Iowa farmers,” said Wiebbecke. “After spending most of my career focused on genetics and varietal selection, I am excited to champion on-farm research and implementation efforts of the RCFI team enhancing the capabilities of Iowa soybean operations to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability.”

An Iowa native, Wiebbecke received her Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Iowa State University and Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding from Iowa State University.

Wiebbecke began her career as a teacher, sharing her passion for learning, science and agriculture with students. She then channeled her efforts on research and development, focusing on soybean breeding for more than 16 years, including a decade spent as a soybean breeder developing new varieties for farmers. Most recently, Christie served as a soybean technical product manager with Corn States—Bayer’s commercial licensing organization.

“We are so excited to have Christie join the ISA team as she assumes overall leadership of our research and conservation programs and projects,” says Kirk Leeds, ISA CEO. “ISA continues to provide real world answers and solutions to the research challenges that Iowa’s soybean farmers are facing. Christie will lead a team focused on using the best information possible to help farmers improve agronomic performance while enhancing and expanding conservation practices.”

Wiebbecke was named to the position following the May 2023 retirement of Ed Anderson, Ph.D., who will continue to serve soybean farmers in a contractual role as executive director of the North Central Soybean Research Program.

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Funded by the soybean checkoff

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 37,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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