2Blades Welcomes Two New Members to Sustainability Council
Rob Bertram and Tony Gathungu will share their deep expertise in global food security, agricultural innovation, and delivering science-based solutions with 2Blades.
Evanston, IL - 2Blades is delighted to welcome Rob Bertram and Tony Gathungu to its Sustainability Council, which will strengthen the organization’s efforts to advance agricultural innovation for greater crop resilience and productivity.
The Sustainability Council is a volunteer, non-governing body made up of individuals deeply committed to agricultural innovation and food security.
Council members serve as champions for 2Blades’ mission to breed more robust crops that withstand diseases, pests, and climate shocks and help the organization build partnerships that deliver these improvements to commercial and smallholder farmers worldwide.
“Rob and Tony have extraordinary expertise in the pursuit and delivery of agricultural innovation, with years of practical, fine-level experience along the agricultural innovation chain, moving ideas into products with value in the field,” said 2Blades’ President and Co-Founder Diana Horvath. “Both have already supported 2Blades in multiple ways; I’m grateful to have their continuing input into our efforts.”
Rob Bertram currently serves as Chief Scientist for the Food Security Leadership Council and is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. From 2014 to 2025, he served as Chief Scientist for Food Security at the U.S. Agency for International Development, where he led agricultural and food systems research in Feed the Future. His work focused on reducing hunger, extreme poverty, and child stunting through inclusive agricultural growth, risk reduction, and improved access to nutritious diets.
During his tenure at USAID, Bertram championed agricultural biotechnology to address complex challenges, supporting major investments in insect resistance, drought tolerance, and disease resistance across crops including maize, cowpea, cassava, potato, eggplant, and sorghum. He also emphasized science-based regulatory capacity building, contributing to the development of functional biosafety systems and locally led innovation across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Tony Gathungu is Chief Growth Officer at CGIAR, where he leads efforts to scale science-based innovations, forge strategic partnerships, and mobilize investment to accelerate practical, data-driven agricultural solutions. His work supports smallholder farmers across the Global South, helping them adapt to climate challenges and build sustainable, resilient livelihoods.
Gathungu brings more than 20 years of global experience spanning agribusiness, sustainable development, and strategic business development. He has previously held senior leadership roles at the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Seeds2B Africa, and Bayer Crop Science, as well as commercial leadership roles in the United States. He is widely recognized for his commitment to collaborative partnerships and innovative business models that deliver lasting impact for farming communities.
As members of the Sustainability Council, Bertram and Gathungu will serve as ambassadors for 2Blades’ mission, provide strategic advice to staff, help expand the organization’s networks, and support its long-term sustainability through connections to philanthropic, institutional, and international partners.
Other Sustainability Council members include:
Euler Bropleh, Managing Director (VestedWorld)
Robert Easter, Former President and Professor Emeritus (University of Illinois)
Michelle Hresko, Former Global Portfolio Lead (Bayer Crop Science)
Tom Turpen, CEO (SensIT Ventures)
Maria Velissariou, Founder & Principal Consultant (Maria Velissariou Consulting, LLC)
Please visit www.2blades.org/team to learn more about Tony and Rob, as well as the full 2Blades Board of Directors, Advisory Boards, and team.