Brian Diers is an Emeritus Professor in the Crop Sciences and Agricultural Consumer Economics department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a world-renowned soybean breeder and will be working with RIPE on breeding improved crop canopies. His research advances fundamental knowledge of the genes responsible for soybean yield, protein content, and resistance to major pests. His captive breeding program releases and licenses soybean varieties for production in Illinois, with more than 15 varieties currently in commercial production.