In this edition, we’re excited to introduce you to three colleagues from AgIdea, oe of the latest additions to the SynTech Research Group family as of early 2025. With AgIdea integrated into our global network, we’re taking this opportunity to hear directly from team members about their experiences, motivations, and what it means to be part of a company that’s committed to making a meaningful impact in agricultural innovation.
Meet our colleagues, Juan Pablo Maisterrena, USA Manager, Valeria Fagotti, Regulatory Affairs Manager, and Flavia Zattara, Administration and Finance Manager.
What is your primary role at AgIdea, and how would you describe your day-to-day responsibilities?
Juan Pablo: I serve as the Country Manager of AgIdea for the United States. My main role is to build and lead teams capable of successfully executing the projects we sell across all our locations, ensuring efficient use of resources. To achieve this, I am involved in the company’s strategic planning, budget development and control, acquisition of the necessary assets to operate and grow, and the development of our team.
Valeria: I have been working at AgIdea since 2010 and, after taking on several challenges, in 2023 I took on the role of Regulatory Area Manager. Currently, I am in charge of the GLP Entiy Management, field and laboratory regulatory studies and regulatory management. My day-to-day work combines management, technical leadership and teamwork to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
Flavia: For the last year I have been working as Administration and Finance Manager. My daily responsibilities include overseeing the financial management of the company, ensuring the correct planning, control and analysis of economic resources. I coordinate the preparationof budgets, monitor key fnancial indicators and analyze deviatios in order to propose correctie actins. I also manage the treasury and supervise compliance with tax and accountig obligations. I additon, I lead the administratie and fnancial team, ensuring an efcient operation alined with the organizaton’s strategic objectves.
What are the values and aspects of AgIdea’s culture that resonate most with you?
Juan Pablo: I have an entrepreneurial spirit, so I truly value the fact that AgIdea encourages initiative and innovation—even within a company setting. I appreciate that we’re empowered to propose ideas,
take action, and that our voices are always heard. I also connect deeply with the company’s constant drive to explore new opportunities, grow, and strive to be a benchmark in everything we do.
Valeria: I identify very much with the culture of continuous learning and the pursuit of technical excellence. At AgIdea there is always room for growth, training and taking on new challenges. I also deeply value teamwork and the collaborative environment, where each person contributes from his or her place to achieve common goals.
Flavia: Integrity, accountability and collaboration are fundamental to me. I identify with AgIdea as it promotes transparency, commitment to results and teamwork. I highly value an environment where professional development is encouraged, efort is recognized and work is purposeful. I believe that a culture based on trust and contiuous improvement allows not only to achieve fnancial goals, but also to build strong and sustainable relatonships within the team and with other areas.
What is your favorite activity or hobby outside of work, and have you found any support or community for it within the company?
Juan Pablo: These days, my favorite hobby is enjoying my kids’ hobbies. I try to support and accompany them in their main passion, which is soccer, and spend quality time with them and my wife. At AgIdea, I’ve always been able to maintain a healthy work-life balance, which has allowed me to be present for those important family moments.
Valeria: I really enjoy all things related to healthy eating and all things natural. I enjoy sprout production and organic gardening, activities that connect me with nature. Within AgIdea I found colleagues who share these interests, which allowed me to generate spaces for exchange and learning. It is very gratifying to be able to share these values with other colleagues, beyond the strictly work-related.
Flavia: Outside of work, my favorite actvity is spending tie and playing with my daughters. It is a tie when I completely disconnect from work stress and focus on enjoying and sharing with them. AgIdea accompanied me for many years in my search for motherhood, always with respect, empathy and support. This generated a very strong bond for me. Today, in addition, I feel that the balance between personal and professional life is very much respected, which allows me to be present in the important moments as a mother.
Is there a particular achievement or project in your career that you are especially proud of?
Juan Pablo: I’m proud that the people who have been part of my teams—both at AgIdea and in my previous roles—can say that I’ve been a positive leader who supported their professional growth in meaningful ways. I’m also proud that my employers have always considered me a key contributor to the company’s growth. I’ve consistently brought dedication, hard work, and a strong sense of ethics to everything I do.
Valeria: One of the achievements I am most proud of is having been part of the implementation of the Quality Management System with which we certified, for the first tie in Argentina, the GLP standard for field residue studies. Today we have the OAA certification for residue and GMO studies, both in the field and in the laboratory. This project implied leaving the comfort zone, training and working as a team to develop procedures and methods that today are part of our routine.
Flavia: One achievement I am especially proud of is having reached the positon I am in today after 11 years at AgIdea. It has been a path of much learning, growth and commitment. I started in a very different role, and over tie I took on new challenges, training and gaining the confidence to keep moving forward. For me, it is not only about the positon, but about everything it represents: the perseverance, the effort and the support I received along the way.
Is there any personal story or anecdote you’d like to share about your time at AgIdea that exemplifies why you enjoy working there?
Juan Pablo: While I don’t have a specific anecdote in mind, I can say that after several years, I still come to work with the same enthusiasm as when I started. That feeling hasn’t changed. Over time, I’ve built great relationships—some of which have turned into true friendships—and that’s a big part of why I enjoy working at AgIdea so much.
Valeria: I have several anecdotes in 14 years of working at the company, but what I enjoy most about working at AgIdea are the spaces to get to know each other better, exchange knowledge and enjoy good ties together.
Flavia: One thing I love about working at AgIdea is the atmosphere that is generated in the team. For example, every Friday a diferent person brings breakfast to share. It’s a simple custom, but very meaningful. It generates chats and laughter that allow us to connect beyond work. This strengthens bonds, improves communication an generates a climate of trust that is later reflected in how we work together. In addition, sometimes we go out to dinner or share an extracurricular activity, which reinforces that sense of community. It’s those little things that make me really enjoy coming to work every day.
