Novonesis

Lone Baekgaard is Vice President of Animal & Plant Biosolutions Applied R&D at Novonesis, where she leads global innovation strategy, new product development and industrial partnerships within agriculture and animal biosolutions. With more than 15 years of industry experience, she has a strong track record of delivering microbial and enzymatic solutions across agriculture, bioenergy and food and beverage sectors. She holds a PhD in Plant Biotechnology from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark and completed executive education at Harvard Business School as part of Novonesis’ senior leadership team.

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of science, sustainability and product innovation, driven by the challenge of turning complex biological systems into practical, real-world solutions. My journey with Novonesis (formerly Novozymes) began in the lab and has taken me through a range of global leadership roles across R&D, spanning multiple industries, product innovation and customer collaboration.

Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant scientists and passionate partners who share a core belief: Biology has the power to transform how we grow food, care for animals and protect our planet. Today, I lead Animal and Plant Biosolutions R&D, bringing that passion full circle. Our global team is committed to developing biosolutions that work in harmony with nature while delivering meaningful value across the agricultural value chain.

Collaborations That Make a Difference

At Novonesis, we believe the best collaborations are rooted in shared purpose, mutual respect and a commitment to meaningful outcomes.

We often use co-innovation frameworks that ensure transparency, measurable outcomes and a deep understanding of end-user needs, drawing on the unique expertise each partner brings to the table.

The collaborators who drive the greatest impact are those who pair bold vision with operational excellence. It takes trust, openness, scientific curiosity and the courage to challenge assumptions, especially when navigating uncharted biological or regulatory terrain.

Making Biosolutions Accessible and Scalable

Innovation only creates impact when it can scale. That’s why, from the outset, we design biosolutions with real-world market fit in mind leveraging digital modeling, pilot programs and regional feedback loops to optimize outcomes.

Our cross-functional teams collaborate closely with commercial and supply chain partners to ensure each innovation meets technical benchmarks and performs at scale, in diverse environments and across economic realities. Our global reach, paired with strong local partnerships, is what makes this level of execution possible.

Biology has the power to transform how we grow food, care for animals and protect our planet.

Keeping Sustainability at the Heart of Biosolutions

For me, sustainability isn’t a side project; it’s a core driver of innovation and value for the customer. Having witnessed the effects of climate change on agriculture and natural ecosystems firsthand, I’m motivated by the urgency to develop solutions that help us do more with less: utilizing our raw materials more efficiently, improving animal welfare and reducing our reliance on traditional chemistry to lower GHG emission and pollution.

At Novonesis, sustainability is not a tradeoff. It’s a performance imperative. We’re guided by sciencebased targets, transparent metrics and a deep sense of responsibility. It all comes down to integrity.

Reshaping Biosolutions with AI

We generate vast amounts of data every day, making digitalization essential to unlocking its full value. By integrating AI and machine learning, we’re accelerating everything from strain discovery to field and animal performance modeling. Predictive algorithms help us identify and optimize lead candidates faster and more precisely tailoring solutions to specific applications, environments and conditions. This significantly shortens the innovation timeline for bringing new biosolutions to market.

But while AI is a powerful enabler, its real impact comes when paired with the biological insight of our researchers and the real-world context of our customers.

Building Agile and Responsive Research Teams

Agility starts with culture. We’ve built teams that embrace iteration, open feedback, and crossdisciplinary collaboration. Staying closely connected to global markets through strong commercial partnerships, customer relationships, and regular input from farmers, veterinarians and processors helps us stay grounded in real-world needs. Our external collaborations also plays a key role in keeping ideas fresh and forward-looking.

Internally, we prioritize fast decision-making by empowering our teams. By using dynamic project management tools and continuous learning loops, we create a culture that sees failure as feedback and enables us to pivot quickly when new insights or challenges arise.

Elevating the Impact of R&D Efforts

Stay curious, and don’t wait for permission to lead. Leadership isn’t defined by a title. It’s about how you show up: asking bold questions, connecting ideas across silos and taking ownership. Whether you’re in the lab or the boardroom, that mindset is your superpower.

As you grow into leadership roles, focus on empowering your team to make decisions and building relationships across disciplines. Take time to understand the broader landscape comprising market dynamics, sustainability drivers and policy shifts, and be the one who brings science into strategic conversations.

Above all, stay connected to your “why.” Purposedriven innovation is what moves this industry and the world forward.