William (Bill) Buckner

At the end of 2018, William “Bill” Buckner retired from the Noble Research Institute, LLC, and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation after leading both organizations for the previous seven years. The Noble Research Institute, an agricultural research organization, conducts research, education and consultation activities, with the mission “to deliver solutions to great agricultural challenges.”

In 1980, Buckner obtained his Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri and proceeded to gain experience in the industry through agriculture retail, agricultural lending and animal health.

Prior to his roles at the Noble Research Institute and Noble Foundation, Buckner spent 18 years with Bayer Group. He started out with Bayer AG in 1993 as a marketing executive in their Animal Health Business unit in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Over the years he moved to Germany, Canada and to different locations in the U.S., assuming different positions within Bayer Group. Buckner eventually rose to become North American president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP in April 2006, and held the position until retiring in December 2011.

In addition to Wilbur-Ellis’ board, Buckner currently serves on the boards of the Soil Health Institute, Trace Genomics, Inc., and Anuvia Plant Nutrients, and serves as an industry advisor to the board of MicroGen BioTech. Buckner has previously served as a board member and chairman of the executive committee for CropLife America, a board member for Passage Home, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based nonprofit organization, and a steering committee member for the North Carolina Agriculture Biotechnology Center. Buckner has also served on boards of the Farm Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Liberty Foundation, Mercy Hospital-Ardmore, Oklahoma and CropLife Canada.

Buckner lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and enjoys his free moments spending time with his family and practicing what he preaches in his efforts to regenerate the family farm in Oxford, North Carolina.