Zeledón selected to lead Texas A&M AgriLife center at Corpus Christi
Brings more than 20 years of private industry experience in research and crop development
Johnson Zeledón, Ph.D., will join Texas A&M AgriLife Research as the new director for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi, effective June 1.
Zeledón is currently head of The Seedcare Institute-North America at Syngenta Crop Protection in Stanton, Minnesota.
“Dr. Zeledón’s extensive background will be integral to advancing the strategic priorities of our center at Corpus Christi and in South Texas,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “His leadership will advance our mission to pioneer knowledge that nourishes health, strengthens communities, protects natural resources and supports economies.”
As the center director in Corpus Christi, he will supervise center operations and those of its associated research stations at Beeville and Flour Bluff, leading scientific teams to secure extramural funding and foster strong relationships with local stakeholders and regional leaders.
The Texas A&M AgriLife center is the headquarters for AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service serving the Texas Coastal Bend region. Its research and science-based programming focus on agricultural economics, animal science, crop physiology, digital agriculture, entomology, family and consumer health, forage agronomy, mariculture, rangeland management, plant pathology, soil and crop sciences, and youth development.
More than 20 years in research and development
Zeledón has more than 20 years of experience with product development and research in germplasm, agronomic practices and seed treatments as a key member of the global breeding and trait development leadership team in past roles with Bayer Crop Science, BASF and Monsanto.
“I have a very unique career — my career is not boxed by my specialty,” Zeledón said. “I’m an entomologist by training, but for the last 20 years I’ve done many other things. I’ve managed breeding programs, field research, laboratories, worked in fields in many different geographies and quite a few different crops … one of the things I bring is a background that bridges several disciplines.”
Born in Nicaragua, Zeledón earned his bachelor’s degree from Zamorano, the Pan‑American Agricultural School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He came to the United States 30 years ago as an entomology intern and went on to earn a master’s and a doctorate in entomology from Mississippi State University, followed by a master’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University.
New excitement with digital tools advancements
Zeledón said he’s excited about the diversified disciplines addressed at the Corpus Christi center, which will provide him with exposure to mariculture and beef production, besides crops and agronomy, and there will be new things to learn.
He emphasized that the center is seeing a rising appreciation for how digital agriculture can transform field‑level decision‑making and deliver the next generation of productivity improvements.
“Corpus has a very strong digital program, and their ability to build the data-based program and lay the foundation for these tools will be fantastic,” Zeledón said. “If we get the opportunity to use digital tools to make decisions in the field, we could improve profitability by minimizing inputs as well as increasing yields. It’s going to be next level, and Corpus has the foundation to bring that to our customers and stakeholders.”
He said he also plans to build a research program that complements research activities already happening at the center
“This is truly a way for me to give back, be of service and share some of my experiences,” Zeledón said.
