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In this episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, Mark Jewell interviews Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio, a company revolutionizing crop nutrition with gene-edited microbes that replace or reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.

Chris shares how intentional leadership, customer-first strategy, and bold cultural standards have shaped Pivot Bio’s growth — even in the wildly volatile commodity and fertilizer markets of recent years. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling a fast-moving startup, this episode brings practical and powerful insight into building companies that win by doing right — for the business, the farmer, and the environment.

Key Takeaways:

Be Intentional or Be Left Behind

For Chris, intentionality begins with time ownership. “It’s my most limited resource,” he says. Whether with family or work, Chris has learned to compartmentalize, plan his days, and preserve sacred blocks for what matters most — including personal health and leadership reflection.

Microbes, Markets, and a Mission

Pivot Bio engineers nitrogen-fixing microbes, enabling farmers to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers — and save money in the process. Their products now cost 30% less than synthetic nitrogen and can be shipped to any acre in 48 hours. It’s a disruptive, scalable, and sustainability-positive solution in a world hungry for lower-cost crop nutrition.

Culture Is a Strategy — Not a Slogan

Chris drives a culture that’s customer-centered and values-driven. His hiring rules?

1. Serve the customer like you’d want your family to see.
2. No assholes. Ever. Even if they’re profitable.

This rule has reshaped everything from hiring decisions to dropping distribution partners who mistreated the team.

Lead Through Cycles, Not Headlines

Commodity volatility, geopolitical impacts, investor pressure — Chris has lived it all. But instead of reacting, he narrows focus to 3 pillars:

• Pillar 1: Product & innovation
• Pillar 2: Commercial infrastructure
• Pillar 3: Network effect built from customers, partners, investors, and farmers

These guiding principles keep the team aligned, even through turbulent markets.

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s not the farmer’s job to both feed the world and save it. We’ve got to help them.” – Chris Abbott
• “If you hire world-class people but tolerate poor behavior, you’ve already lost.” – Chris Abbott
• “Make a decision your family would be proud of. That rule alone takes care of 99% of leadership challenges.” – Chris Abbott
• “Nothing loses you a good employee faster than watching you tolerate a bad one.” – Mark Jewell
• “Innovation is worthless unless it’s higher performing and cheaper.” – Chris Abbott

Action Steps:

• Reevaluate your “no-go zones” as a leader. What time, values, or behaviors are non-negotiable?
• Identify the 3 pillars that drive your business — and communicate them consistently.
• Schedule intentional pauses each week for strategic clarity — the kind no meeting can offer.
• Bonus: Pick up Outlive or The Outsiders, two books Chris recommends for leadership clarity and long-term thinking.

Listen If You Are:

• Leading a team or business through market volatility
• Passionate about sustainability and profitability in agriculture
• A founder or exec trying to scale without compromising culture
• Curious about microbiology’s role in the future of ag