Inari appoints agribusiness executive Lisa Safarian to board

Seed technology company Inari has appointed Lisa Nunez Safarian to its board of directors, effective May 1. The move adds a seasoned agriculture executive with more than 30 years of experience to the board as the company advances development of high-yield seed products.

Safarian most recently served as president and chief operating officer at Pivot Bio, a nitrogen-focused ag biotech firm. Before that, she spent over three decades in leadership roles at Monsanto and Bayer, overseeing strategic growth, product supply, and market development. At Monsanto, she helped build the company’s seeds, traits, licensing, and crop protection businesses. Following Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto, she led Crop Science North America as president.

Inari board chair Ignacio Martinez said Safarian’s experience in commercial and product development roles at major agricultural firms would support the company’s long-term objectives. “Her insights will be invaluable as we further progress in delivering our high-yielding seed products to customers,” he said.

Safarian also serves on the board of RiceTec and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Inari develops seeds for corn, soybeans, and wheat using AI and multiplex gene editing. The company, founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2016, employs more than 300 people and has additional operations in Indiana and Belgium.