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Jerry has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
Following his retirement from Monsanto Jerry was a co-founder and for 7 years as CEO of an agricultural startup, CoverCress Inc. CoverCress developed Pennycress as a winter crop, functioning like a cover crop while also producing a low Carbon Intensity feedstock for renewable diesel and SAF, and a new source of farm income. CoverCress was sold to Bayer, Bunge and Chevron in 2022.
He is a member of several companies Boards of Directors, aimed at reducing our carbon footprint. These include Albemarle Corporation (NYSE), and three venture backed ag tech startups: Pluton Biosciences, (soil microbes), NuCisor (better chickpeas), and Miruku (plant produced cheeses). He also serves as an advisor to the the Planetary Health fund of Illumina Ventures, focusing on promising new companies impacting this area.
He is a Trustee of Keystone Policy Center which convenes public, private and civic leaders to address societal issues for the environment, health policy, and education. Working with Keystone, he was a key founder of Field to Market, a diverse alliance of now over 100 entities leading companies and grower groups that span the value chain all seeking to create sustainable outcomes for agriculture.
Steiner received a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and an MBA from Washington University. He and his family are actively involved with their Maryland community, especially focused on teen mental health and greater opportunities for underserved youth
Steven Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units. His leadership encompasses more than 125,000 associates and over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has held leadership positions of increased responsibility since.
