For four decades, Jerry Duff has been a dedicated pioneer in agricultural innovation, steadily building a global network of scientific collaboration that has transformed how breakthrough technologies reach farmers worldwide.
The remarkable journey began in the 1980s when Jerry’s entrepreneurial vision took root following years of working with agricultural companies and their farmer-customers. Since the 1985 launch of The Duff Company, the Duff vision evolved into TDC International and then expanded to become AgriThority®, an international firm devoted to development of innovations. Through persistent effort and genuine partnerships, he cultivated an international network of over 300 agricultural professionals serving clients across six continents—a testament to an unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture.
Jerry Duff: Connecting Innovation with Impact
Jerry’s more than four decades of experience in business and product development have established him as a respected connector within the agricultural community. His deep understanding of the industry, from his personal experience farming to working with cutting-edge biologicals, has enabled him to identify opportunities where innovation can truly serve farmers’ needs. Rather than seeking the spotlight, Jerry has consistently focused on building relationships and pathways that allow agricultural innovations to succeed.
“I’ve known Jerry for 30 years,” says Mike Borel, Partner at Kearney. “I’ve been a client, a competitor, a recommender and friend. I’ve admired the transitions he has led to keep AgriThority relevant.”
A Network Built on Collaboration
Duff assembled what represents one of agriculture’s most comprehensive networks of expertise—spanning North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The AgriThority team includes dedicated Ph.D. researchers, regulatory experts, business strategists, and field scientists who share a unified mission: helping agricultural innovations move efficiently from laboratory concepts to practical farming solutions.
The experience in collaboration broadened when Mary Jane Duff joined The Duff Company agricultural marketing agency in 1987. With deep roots in Missouri’s grain and livestock farming community, Mary Jane brought both authenticity and strategic insight to their shared mission. Her career has focused on translating complex agricultural science into practical market solutions. As Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, she has built meaningful relationships with industry leaders, consistently proving that technical excellence combined with strategic thinking creates a lasting impact.
As both life and business partners they built on their own investigative journalism training from the University of Missouri and many business mentors who have contributed to the growth of the companies. Through collaboration with their clients to help position and market products, they shifted their focus to meet the need for deeper product development, and in 2008 Jerry Duff launched AgriThority.
Advancing Agriculture Through Service
Through the AgriThority integrated services—from strategic business development to TrialWerx® commercial-scale field testing—the team has created a comprehensive platform where promising technologies don’t just survive, they thrive in real-world applications. Their particular focus on biologicals, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture reflects both market leadership and genuine commitment to food and agriculture’s future.
“Jerry and Mary Jane have 40 years of success woven throughout the agriculture industry,” says Cam Camfield, Stratovation CEO. “Many agribusinesses (and their farmer customers) have the Duff’s hard work and insights to thank for some of the industry’s most impactful technologies.”
The Duff Philosophy: Excellence Through Partnership
What distinguishes Jerry and Mary Jane is their understanding that meaningful agricultural progress requires more than individual brilliance—it demands both strategy and science, market intelligence, and the ability to connect innovative science with practical farming solutions. Their success has come through elevating others and facilitating breakthrough innovations.
Their legacy is measured not in personal accolades, but in the countless agricultural innovations they’ve helped shepherd from concept to global implementation, the scientific careers they’ve supported, and the farming communities they’ve served.
Looking Forward
As agriculture faces unprecedented challenges in sustainably feeding a growing global population, Jerry and Mary Jane Duff are continuing to grow their legacy – every company, technology, current and past employee, and insight they’ve helped uncover and grow to drive meaningful change in agriculture.
Congratulations to Jerry Duff on the vision, leadership and persistence over forty years of building bridges between innovation and real-world, on-farm impact.
