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Meet Joe Martin: Field Technical Manager at Corteva
Tell us a little bit about your role at Corteva?
I'm a Field Technical Manager (FTM) with responsibility for Biologicals, Seed Applied Technology and Instinct nitrogen stabiliser. In simple terms, my role is all about helping bring innovation to farmers and ensuring new and existing products are backed by strong technical evidence and support.
I work closely with colleagues across research, marketing, product development and sales, helping turn trial data and scientific research into practical solutions that growers and agronomists can use with confidence.
One of the things I enjoy most is the variety. One day I might be looking at trial results or planning demonstrations, and the next I'll be meeting customers, presenting technical information or working with colleagues to support a new product launch. I spend time acting as the bridge between research teams and the people who ultimately use our technologies in the field.
Can you describe your journey to becoming a Field Technical Manager at Corteva?
I studied Applied Biology with a specialism in Crop Protection at Nottingham Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University). It was a fantastic course, and like many people in the industry, that's where my passion for crop protection really started.
As part of the course, I completed industry placements with Oxford Agricultural Trials and ICI (now Syngenta), where I got my first experience of agricultural trials work. A lot of credit also goes to my lecturer, Dr Bill Carlisle, who was incredibly supportive and inspired many students to pursue careers in crop protection.
After university I started at The Laboratory of the Government Chemist, but I quickly realised I preferred being out in the field rather than in the lab. I moved to Agrisearch, now Eurofins, as a Trials Agronomist and ended up spending nearly 20 years there in various roles including Trials Coordinator, Study Director and Country Manager.
Later, I joined AHDB, where I worked on a number of crop health and protection projects, including the SCEPTREplus programme supporting horticultural crops. That role gave me experience across a huge range of crops and allowed me to work closely with growers while helping develop crop protection solutions and supporting EAMU applications.
Throughout my time at both Eurofins and AHDB, I had the opportunity to work with Corteva and always came away impressed by the people and the company's focus on innovation. So, when the opportunity to join as a Field Technical Manager came up, it felt like a natural next step.
What has been the most interesting project you’ve worked on at Corteva?
That's a difficult question because there's a lot of variety in my role and I've genuinely enjoyed everything I've been involved in.
If I had to choose, I'd say being part of the introduction and development of new biological technologies has been particularly exciting. Agriculture is changing rapidly, and growers are increasingly looking for solutions that complement existing farming practices while helping improve productivity and sustainability.
It's really rewarding to be involved in generating the evidence behind these products and seeing them move from research and development into practical use on farm.
How do you keep up to date with the latest advancements and trends in agriculture?
Agriculture never stands still, so there's always something new to learn.
Corteva provides plenty of opportunities to stay up to date through training, technical meetings, industry events and conferences. I also keep an eye on industry publications and enjoy speaking with growers, agronomists and researchers about the challenges they're facing and the innovations they're seeing.
To be honest, some of the best learning comes from conversations with colleagues. We have a huge amount of expertise within Corteva and people are always willing to share their knowledge and experience.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a Field Technical Manager in the agricultural industry?
My advice would be to get as much practical experience as you can and never stop learning.
Starting my career in trials work gave me an excellent grounding in understanding crops, research and data, but I also learned a huge amount from working directly with farmers, growers and agronomists.
Technical knowledge is important, but so are communication skills. Being able to take complex information and explain it in a practical way is a big part of the job.
I'd also encourage people to gain experience across different crops and sectors if possible. The broader your experience, the more opportunities you'll create for yourself in the future.
Why would you recommend Corteva as a great place to work?
For me, it's the people.
Everyone is approachable, supportive and willing to help, which creates a really positive team environment. There are lots of opportunities to get involved in different projects and work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and specialist areas.
I also enjoy the fact that Corteva is continually investing in innovation, whether that's biologicals, seed technologies, crop protection or nutrient management. It means you're always learning and working on something that can make a real difference for farmers.
Most importantly, you feel trusted and valued. You're encouraged to bring ideas forward, develop your skills and take ownership of your work, which makes it a genuinely enjoyable place to build a career.
If you are looking for a role with a difference, Corteva is the right choice, providing valuable learning experiences. Find out more about our talented team here.
