Our Technology Makes It Possible
Calyxt is making possible what farmers and botanists have been doing for hundreds of years, choosing the best crops and breeding them to make stronger, more uniform, sustainable plants. We accelerate that process with groundbreaking TALEN® gene-editing technology to enhance the unique characteristics that naturally exist in each plant, allowing us to develop healthier and more sustainable products.
TALEN® Technology is the Engine Behind our Innovation
Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease (TALEN®) is engine behind our innovation. Our advanced breeding technology allows for precision targeting of existing genes within a plant’s genome. Informed by a proprietary trait-discovery process, this targeting allows our scientists to select for desired characteristics, accelerating breeding in a fraction of the time.
With gene editing, we are simply using science to accelerate the process and develop crops that have the best, most desired traits possible — and unlike GMOS, contain no foreign DNA in the final product.
Growing a More Sustainable World, One Innovation at a Time
You have sustainability goals and our TALEN toolbox can help you to reach them.
Our Values
Revolutionary
We believe that the potential of what’s next is greater than what’s now
Responsible
We believe that success includes an obligation to improve the world around us
Bold
Our curiousity drives to discover what’s possible when we unlock the brilliance of nature
Inclusive
Our strength as a business comes from the diverse ideas, interest and backgrounds of our employees and the communities we proudly support
Our Demographics
43%
Women Employees
30%
Employees with PH.D’s
29%
Women Board Directors
Identify as:
78%
White
5%
Hispanic
11%
Asian
6%
2 or more races
Meet the Calyxt Leadership Team
Jim Blome
Chief Executive Officer
Jim Blome
Chief Executive Officer
Jim grew up on a family corn and soybean farm in Hubbard, Iowa, and is a graduate of Iowa State University. Prior to joining Calyxt, Jim was the President and CEO for Bayer CropScience LP (North America). He also held executive positions at Valent (Sumitomo Chemical), Agtrol International and Agriliance LLC (a Land O’ Lakes and CHS joint venture). Jim is on the Board of Directors at Concentric Ag Technologies; Inc. He is the 2013 recipient of the Henry A. Wallace Award from Iowa State University for outstanding leadership and service to agriculture.
Dan Voytas
Chief Science Officer
Dan Voytas
Chief Science Officer
Dan graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1984 and received his Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard Medical School in 1990. He is a co-founder of Calyxt and one of the inventors of the TALEN® technology. In addition to his role at Calyxt, Voytas is a professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota (UMN), which he joined in 2008, and is Director of the UMN’s Center for Precision Plant Genomics. In 1992, Voytas joined the faculty at Iowa State University. Prior to this, he conducted postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dan is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences.
Bill Koschak
Chief Financial Officer
Bill Koschak
Chief Financial Officer
Bill brings over brings over 10 years of corporate, finance and accounting leadership to Calyxt as an operating or corporate CFO. Prior to joining Calyxt, Bill was Vice President, Finance for the Brain Therapies business unit of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). He has held executive positions at Young America Holdings, General Mills (NYSE:GIS), and KPMG LLP. Bill was recognized as a CFO of the Year by the Twin Cities Business Journal in 2016 and currently serves on the board of 1st Financial Bank USA.
Debra Frimerman
General Counsel
Debra Frimerman
General Counsel
Debra brings agriculture and food industry legal expertise to Calyxt. Previously, Debra was Associate General Counsel for Syngenta North America and acting general counsel for Syngenta Seeds, LLC. Through her seven years at Syngenta, Debra provided counsel for executive leadership teams and contributed to the closing of numerous global transactions; launching new products into new markets; and developing regulatory, compliance and corporate policies. Prior to her role at Syngenta, Debra practiced law at Stoel Rives LLP and Lindquist & Vennum PLLP.
Travis Frey
Chief Technology Officer
Travis Frey
Chief Technology Officer
Travis brings over 15 years of experience in the agricultural industry and technology innovation to Calyxt. Travis received his B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State University, M.S. in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. in the Plant Biology and Biotechnology Program at the University of Delaware and DuPont/Pioneer and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business. Prior to joining Calyxt, Travis held science and innovation leadership roles at WISErg Corporation and Monsanto