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Bright future for UPL

Supply has been the number 1 challenge for growers in the past year. Craig Brekkas, North America regional head for UPL is pleased his company was able to satisfy the market demand where needed.

There were some lessons learned during the height of the supply chain disruptions that Brekkas said are useful going forward. He tells Brownfield the supply chain issue wasn’t as much about production as it was about logistics. There were challenges getting trucks and ships, but that situation has greatly improved.

“We’ve learned you have to be in front of it,” he said. “This past year, we were probably kickstarting our production and moving product into position a good 4 – 5 months of what we did the previous year, in preparation for the 2023 season.”

Brekkas tells Brownfield UPL is developing its business in North America. Traditionally UPL has been a post-patent player, which is how most farmers in the U.S. know the company name, but that is changing.

“Who we are today is not where we are going in the future,” he said. “Growers can count on UPL as a solutions provider for them in the coming many, many years to come.”

The purpose of UPL Open Ag is sustainability reimagined. Brekkas tells Brownfield their definition of sustainability is unique.

“It starts from economics,” Brekkas explained.

He tells Brownfield growers have an opportunity to use high-quality, economical products that are socially acceptable and environmentally friendly solutions for growers.

Looking to the future, Brekkas believes North America is in the best place for success in the agriculture industry.

“The future looks bright,” he said. “We want to participate and be a partner in that.”

In ten years, Brekkas believes growers will be using a variety of UPL biologicals to value-added products.

Brekkas tells Brownfield he grew up on a farm and his family still farms. He is committed to agriculture and loves the industry.

“I feel like that is what makes it unique; when you as a boy grow up in it and then you spend the rest of your life serving it, you really think about how what you are doing is good for your family farm and the people you are trying to support (in his role at UPL) because they are all connected to you.”

“I think about doing what is right for agriculture. How can I play a part in it? Beyond that, making sure we are good partners to our growers, we are doing the right things to make sure we are sustainable, and we are here long term and growing and going to be a good partner long term for the growers.”

Brekkas is excited about UPL’s future and looks forward to showcasing the new UPL to the industry over the next couple of years.

“I think UPL has a really bright future, and as the leader of UPL here in North America, I’m just really proud to be a part of it.”

Listen to the conversation with Craig Brekkas: