Cami Ryan

Cami Ryan, a social scientist passionate about agriculture, studies relationships between people and their connections to the social environment. She has worked as a public sector researcher in regulatory and scientific affairs on projects involving innovation and agriculture policy, social networks and social network analysis, science communication, and public perceptions of agriculture and science. Her vast interdisciplinary experiences have led her to her current role as the Social and Behavioral Sciences Lead for Regulatory Scientific Affairs at Bayer Crop Science. 

Can you describe your academic and professional background? What path led you to pursue this field? 

I have a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. What does interdisciplinary mean? Well, my research program and dissertation covered multiple disciplines: agricultural economics, sociology, and organizational behavior, and psychology. My committee and my advisors crossed disciplinary boundaries too. I’ve worked in agriculture for almost 30 years and – for much of that time – as a public sector researcher. My pathway through agriculture was unexpected and interesting. I come from a farming family and farming community in western Canada, so I’ve always had those influences. But I became really fascinated by how relationships (personal and professional) among scientists (in ag biotech particularly) influence and affect research trajectories, innovation, and outcomes. Early in my PhD research, I stumbled upon social network analysis as a tool for exploring these and other kinds of networks (like plant genetic resources, seed companies and ag organizations, intellectual property and material transfer agreements, activism, etc). Much of my work over the past 20+ years has been directed at understanding relationships and connections and the ‘human’ component of the agricultural industry and research. It’s fascinating stuff.  At the end of the day, whether you are a scientist or a farmer or a consumer – we are all humans. Our behaviours are driven by the same things; a desire to belong and to survive. 

How did you find this particular position, and what was the hiring process like? Is there a typical structure for this in your field? 

I joined legacy Monsanto in 2014. The hiring process was… intense. A full day of seven back-to-back one-on-one interviews with global managers and directors across organizations within the company. The process was rigorous and interviews involved questions that were behavioral in nature. For example: “Describe a situation where you disagreed with a colleague. Did you come to an understanding? If so, how? If not, why?” Those kinds of questions. At this level, and in this industry, you have to be prepared to engage in the interview process with a solid understanding of your strengths and your weaknesses and you have to be able to share your experiences through interesting narratives. The interview process can be an exercise in vulnerability at times. But you are being assessed as much - maybe even more - on your professional maturity and ability to navigate complex situations as you are on your knowledge and expertise. 

What led up to this? Well, that’s a long and winding tale. Let me share a bit of it. Prior to joining legacy Monsanto, I was the social scientist on a Genome Canada-funded scientific research project on flax and flax genomics. My role with that group (as a complement to the genomics research) was to explore topics on regulations, access and benefits sharing, intellectual property, plant breeding networks, etc. Very early though, my research focus shifted. A genetically engineered flax seed was found in stores (storage facilities) of flax in the European Union. There were no genetically modified flax varieties on the market anywhere in the world at that point in time. Very quickly, the Canadian flax industry was completely shut down and aggressive testing of flax stores ensued across the country. It was all very costly for both the EU and Canada. I dove into what I now recognize as the complex area of low level presence (LLP), issues management, and international trade. I was curious as to how a seed (that received food and feed safety approval in three jurisdictions but was subsequently withdrawn from the market in 2001) can so quickly shut down an industry. My work evolved into exploring public perceptions of genetically modified organisms and how risk perceptions can shape public policy (for example, public health or food production). 

One of Genome Canada’s SIAC committee members worked for Monsanto and we connected very early in that project to talk about the challenges of communication, issues management, consumer behaviour and public perceptions. Let’s face it, Monsanto was always a lightning rod for controversy and misinformation. My work aligned with the work that they were doing in their regulatory science organization and I was invited to interview with the company. 

As it turned out, the interview was a success and I was offered the role as Social Sciences Lead for the regulatory science organization. As far as I know, my role is the first and only of its kind in the industry. I wish there were more like me out there. Science and social science need to come together to address a number of challenges: ag and food production, sustainability, climate change, etc. While we may have scientific consensus on products and technologies, it doesn’t mean we have social consensus on them. 

Can you tell us about your current responsibilities? What is a typical day or week like in your role?

In my position with Bayer’s Regulatory Scientific Affairs (RSA), I am responsible for strengthening relationships and engaging with social, behavioral, political scientists and experts in the humanities. As you can imagine, much of my work revolves around networking and outreach, but also reading (and reading more), literature reviews, and – of course, research and writing. So, in a way, my work now is not much different than what it was when I was an academic. Now, however, my focus is more on convening knowledge than in necessarily creating it (although I do continue to publish in academic journals). A good day for me is when I can organize (for example) an interesting panel session for a scientific conference that brings together scientists and behavioral scientists to talk about complex topics like disinformation, food production, and sustainability or COVID, food supply chains, and public health. 

I like to bring unexpected people into unexpected places and facilitate those good chats about some of our most grievous challenges in food production, public health, climate change, and sustainability. 

What do you enjoy about your current job and work environment? 

There’s always something. Seriously. Always. Most people are generationally and geographically removed from farming and food production. It’s very easy to problematize agriculture and it’s very easy to believe that agriculture is a problem (villain). My job is to continue to tap into the best that behavioral sciences and humanities research has to offer to understand the broader issues influencing the relationship between food production and the public. Believe me, there is never a dull moment. And, to be honest, I love the challenge of it. 

What are some of the challenging aspects of your job? Is there anything you wish you had known about your job or industry before joining?

Honestly? Corporate culture. I went from being an independent academic one day to being an individual contributor in a multi-disciplinary group of experts in a global seed company the next. While what was in my brain and how I thought and problem-solved was the same, I underestimated the challenges of ‘fitting in’ and working within the boundaries of the corporation. And how the corporation works is quite a bit different from how a university works. Not bad, just different. I had to learn to ‘brand’ myself within the organization and the company. It took me a while to figure things out. Onboarding within the organization, of course, helps. But when your role is the first of its kind and your role represents something “new” and “different” within an organization, you need to develop and execute an internal branding strategy. Your social license to operate within the company and outside of it depends on well-thought out strategies: 1) Your work plan; 2) And, most importantly, who you are, what you do, and how that brings value to the organization.

Do you have any professional plans for the future? What are some future career paths that could open up for someone in your position, 5-10 years down the road?

In a word? Retirement. Sorry, but that’s the truth. This transition to the private sector was a late career move for me. It was strategic in that I really wanted to dive into the “belly of the beast”, if you know what I mean. I saw it as the social science case study of a lifetime. Concluding my career working in the private sector was a way to round out my career narrative. 

Now, and going forward, it is about legacy for me. It is about connecting with and mentoring the next generation of social scientists that work across all sectors in this industry. I expect that opportunities for social scientists in this industry will continue to grow. Science thinks but the public feels. Science (all science) is accepting that and embraces social science as a valuable lens through which to view that ever-evolving relationship between it and society. 

What’s changing in your industry? Are there any future trends we should be aware of?

Climate change, sustainability, and precision / digital agriculture, to name only a few. There is also emphasis on preserving and protecting species and habitat while also ensuring that we continue to feed a growing global population. Whether people believe it or not, this is now part of the industry bottom line - the value proposition. It is expected by employees, shareholders, and the public alike. Some in industry are leading the pack in addressing and engaging around these issues. Others are following while yet others are further behind (or reluctant to change). Most, if not all, in our industry understand that agriculture has been part of problems in the past. And, because of this, the industry also knows that it needs to be part of the solutions going forward. This is the path forward to preserving life as we know it on this planet. We need to partner across disciplines, sectors, and geo-political and institutional boundaries to meet the grand challenge.

What activities, internships, or organizations would you recommend someone get involved with to help them break into this field?

At a young age? 4-H. While the program used to be just for us rural kids, there are now urban chapters as well. Who isn’t interested in our food and how it’s grown? Get involved! It’s an opportunity to better understand farming and food production, to learn to debate and develop communication skills, and to connect with other (future leaders) in the industry.

Some think that the agricultural industry is just for those that come from the farm or those that specialize in crop or plant genetics or those that are agronomists. No. The range of career opportunities in agriculture is unlimited: toxicologists, medical doctors, animal scientists, environmental engineers, mechanical engineers, data scientists, bioinformaticians, biochemists, pathologists, entomologists, finance, human resources, communications, journalism, and more.

Is it common for people in your field to have a scientific/academic background (i.e. have PhDs)? Can you think of any advantages or disadvantages someone with a PhD might experience while pursuing or working in your field?

In regulatory and scientific affairs (in any company or organization), roles demand advanced degrees. In our organization, we are expected to engage with external experts in various scientific disciplines and scientific societies. Advanced degrees come with skills around research and publication. Publish or perish, right? Let’s be honest, publications in academic journals are a currency for trade in scientific circles. They enable us all to engage across institutional and sectoral boundaries, to speak a common (research) language, and to discuss methodology, analyses, and results. If you come to the ‘scientific’ market with your own brand of currency (solid research that has been published in peer reviewed journals), you invite conversation, interest , and opportunities for partnership and collaboration. Partnerships and collaboration (particularly across sectoral and disciplinary boundaries) are the cornerstone for social and economic innovation in any industry. 

Do you have any final words of advice for those navigating these career questions? Is there anything you would have done differently given what you know now? 

When someone says, “You can’t do that” or “Don’t do that”, you need to ask yourself (and others) “Why not?” 

Some of my greatest successes were ideas that were most criticized (even rejected) at the outset. I have found that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission. Stay attentive to your surroundings and, of course, prioritize your relationships, but don’t be afraid to push the boundaries. If you know you have a good idea, and you hit a roadblock, find other ways to get it done or find people to get behind you and that great idea of yours. Ever heard that phrase you are never a hero in your hometown? It’s true. Sometimes, to get recognition and endorsement from your immediate network of peers, you need to break out and leverage external networks (to the organization, the company, and your discipline) to mobilize your ideas. 

If I could change anything (and there’s very little I would change), I would have been a bit more assertive in sharing and pushing my ideas forward. When I *did* push back that’s when the magic materialized; that’s where innovation (in processes, ideas, career paths) happened. You will never regret the things you did but you may regret the things you didn’t do. 

Don’t fear failure, embrace the learnings that come from it and build on them. Strive for better.