Advanta Seeds, the global seed powerhouse under the UPL Group umbrella, has named Rajan Gajaria as its new Vice Chairman—a move that signals an ambitious phase of strategic consolidation and global expansion. Gajaria, a veteran of the agriculture industry with over thirty years of leadership across multinational agri-businesses, steps into the role at a critical juncture for both Advanta and the broader agtech landscape.

For the past two years, Gajaria has served on the boards of UPL SAS and Advanta, contributing to long-term strategic direction. His prior tenure at Corteva Agriscience, where he held several senior executive positions, cemented his reputation as a transformative force in agri-innovation, operations, and market scaling. In recent years, he has become a sought-after advisor to CEOs, venture capitalists, and private equity investors, bringing a sharp lens to value creation and business resilience.

At Advanta, Gajaria will now shift gears from oversight to execution, tasked with driving shareholder value through precision-focused investments, international market development, and a sharpened M&A strategy. His appointment aligns with the UPL Group’s broader vision of turning its seed subsidiary into a global innovation leader—one that balances yield advancement with climate resilience.

Jai Shroff, Chairman and Group CEO of UPL, called the appointment a turning point: “We are delighted to welcome Rajan Gajaria as Vice Chairman of Advanta. His deep expertise in the agriculture sector and proven leadership will be pivotal as we accelerate our strategic initiatives and deliver greater value to our stakeholders.”

Gajaria, in response, framed his new role as both a challenge and an opportunity: “Joining Advanta at this exciting stage represents a significant opportunity. I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team to explore new avenues for growth and deliver meaningful value for all stakeholders.”

Bhupen Dubey, CEO of Advanta, added: “Rajan’s arrival marks a significant milestone for Advanta. His strategic vision and deep industry expertise will be instrumental as we continue to drive innovation. We aim to expand our global presence and deliver exceptional outcomes for our shareholders, customers, and employees.”

For a company navigating the crosscurrents of food security, climate change, and digital transformation in farming, Gajaria’s appointment could be the catalyst that propels Advanta from a regional innovator to a global benchmark in next-generation seed technology.