Two Generations of Women Leaving a Legacy: The Trolinder Story
BASF Cotton Solutions for Texas – Cotton Breeding
In the world of science, trailblazers have pushed the boundaries of both knowledge and innovation, forging new paths forward. They are leaders and visionaries, redefining the future of what’s possible. Dr. Norma Trolinder is all of these: a trailblazer and leader and a visionary, who revolutionized cotton research and genetics in 1995, patenting technology that made genetically modified cotton possible.
Her legacy is vast and reaches beyond what can be covered in a singular piece of writing, especially as she’s followed by women like her daughter, Linda Trolinder, Retired Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Seeds and Traits at BASF. They’ve propelled the future for the field they love because of their work and contributions throughout their careers.
As a kid, Linda was in the field during the summers with a hoe, keeping the cotton weeds under control and seeing firsthand the hard work that goes into growing and maintaining fields. Not only was she working alongside crews in the field, but she was also spending time with her mother in the lab — where Linda’s curiosity ran free. What began as Norma keeping her adventurous daughter in sight became the catalyst for Linda’s curiosity in the field of science.
“For a long time, I really wasn’t aware of how pivotal or groundbreaking the work she was doing,” Linda says. “After starting down my own journey in college and diving into the technology myself, I realized its potential impact on the agriculture industry and on the world. My graduate school college years is when I really became more aware of what she was doing and how applicable it was.”
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Linda’s curious and inquisitive mind has been the driving force behind her remarkable educational and professional journey.
Seeding the Future
The process of bringing a new product to the market through research and development (R&D) is long and rigorous. The entire process — from discovery to launching a new variety carrying a new technology or trait — takes about 14 to 17 years, depending on the crop. For cotton, it averages 14 years to bring a new variety carrying new trait technology to the market.
“We spend approximately nine years to develop a new variety, five of which are spent breeding and the remainder in testing, final line selection, and subsequent seed production. For a new trait registration there are approximately an additional six years to get the product registered that can run in parallel to this process that adds additional time until product launch,” Linda says.
Fourteen years is a long time in any industry, but especially in one that changes as rapidly from season to season as agriculture. Weeds emerge or develop resistance, new pests are introduced to crops where they’ve never been an issue, the volatility of weather patterns shift like changing tides. With Linda’s oversight and leadership of the BASF R&D team, they’ve prioritized keeping their finger on the pulse of the grower, making sure they stay on top of trends and emerging issues. As growers know, a product is only valuable once it’s in their hands and available when they need it.
Staying on top of new technologies and advancing them for the growers is something Linda and her team heavily focus on, looking at any new technology that allows them to reduce the time to market or building on existing technology to allow it to work better as challenges in the field arise.
“It is so essential to have good relationships with your customers and talk to them on a regular basis,” Linda says regarding BASF’s approach to innovation. “Hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly from them: what works well, what isn’t working, where are the occasional challenges, and where things are slipping through the cracks. It first starts with listening and understanding.”
From the development of Liberty® Herbicide technology in 1996 in FiberMax® and Stoneville® cotton seed brands and evolution of new trait technologies to the new introduction of Axant™ Flex Herbicide Tolerance technology, Linda has played a significant role in the development and research for some of the BASF technology that has been the foundation of its strongest product offerings.
To the Women in Science
Linda’s groundbreaking research and development were a result of watching a powerful woman in science — her mother — and leading with courage in a male-dominated field. Her research is complemented by diligence, hard work, and the knowledge that she’s had something significant to contribute to agriculture, and that contribution has made a measurable difference to U.S. farmers. She passes on her passion to lead the field by mentoring young women in science, including her daughters, who have both followed her footsteps in their own unique ways with their individual gifts.
Linda and Norma broke barriers in agriculture and science, empowering this generation — and the next — of female scientists.
“Every person can contribute no matter what their background is,” Linda says. “It doesn’t matter where you came from, it’s where you’re going that’s important.”
The achievements of Linda and her mother shine a light on the bright future of women in science and the revolutionization of plant science. In an industry where women are the minority, Linda encourages those in the industry to take up space and let their voices be heard.
“Women are quite creative; they’ve got a lot of ingenuity and much to contribute,” Linda says. “Many women are just trying to fit in, but to that, I’d say it’s okay to stand out. The industry needs you to be who you are and contribute what you have because that is how we advance — that is how science advances.”
As Linda embarks on her next chapter in retirement, one can’t help but look back and salute the achievements that she — and her mother — have made for science, for U.S. farmers, and for the women who will follow in the trail they forged.
Always read and follow label directions.
FiberMax, Liberty and Stoneville are registered trademarks and Axant is a trademark of BASF.
© 2024 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.
GROWER SPOTLIGHT
NAME: Elmer Braden
LOCATION: Braden has farmed for over 40 years outside Coyanosa, Texas. His operation spans nearly 1,000 acres — 160 of which are dedicated to cotton with the remaining acreage used for row crops, hay and livestock.
PASSION FROM THE START: There was never a question in his mind that he’d be a career farmer. He began straight out of high school and, although it hasn’t been easy, he’s never wavered in his choice to farm. “The pleasure of planting a seed, nourishing it, watching it grow and then harvesting it — it’s a blessing to be able to do that,” he says.
DECADES OF SUCCESS: Since FiberMax® cotton was first introduced in 1998, Braden has remained loyal to the brand to the present day. Through strong years and difficult years, he’s found success with the FiberMax 989 variety, 2484 variety during his highest-yielding year in 2013, and most recently with FiberMax 2398 and 2498, his “workhorse” varieties. “In 2013, I had my highest yield, almost five bales of cotton weighing almost 2,500 pounds — that was the highlight of my career.”
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “You start with a good variety and the rest is up to Mother Nature,” he says. For him, the most challenging part is ensuring that the seed emerges. Once it does, he knows he has a decent chance of producing a successful crop. Over the years, he’s experienced seasons where the odds were not in his favor, primarily due to weather. “Farming requires lots of faith. Even during discouraging years, stay positive, persevere, and never get down,” he encourages.
WHAT KEEPS HIM COMING BACK TO FIBERMAX COTTON: Braden’s been a loyal FiberMax cotton grower for two and a half decades, making the FiberMax One Ton™ Club for 11 of those years. “If you like something and it does well, you have to stick with it,” Braden says. His achievements with the FiberMax brand excite him for the new varieties powered by Axant™ Flex Herbicide Tolerance Technology coming in 2024. “I think BASF is really knocking on the door and has another great variety coming.”
Always read and follow label directions.
Axant Flex technologies are not available for
purchase in all areas. Please contact your local BASF
representative for more information. FiberMax is a
registered trademark and Axant is a trademark of BASF.
© 2024 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.