We speak to the American founder and CEO of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the world, Stine Seed Company.

Harry Stine recalls working in a field on the family soybean farm at the age of four, and says he was soon driving tractors before officially starting work with his father.

It was then that he realised the potential of plant breeding and seeds, leading him to start his own company.

Stine Seed Company now has 1000 patents, and receives fees on about 85% of the acreage in the United States.

(Image: Harry Stine. Credit: Stine Seed Company)