Dr. Natalie DiNicola is CEO of Lilac Agriculture, a next-generation agricultural biologicals company developing superior crop inoculants rooted in science spun out of North Dakota State University.

Dr. DiNicola earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and began her career as an Environmental Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Congress.

With over 20 years of experience in the agri-food industry, she brings deep expertise in sustainability, regulatory affairs, and corporate engagement across the full agricultural value chain.

Dr. DiNicola spent 18 years at Monsanto Company, rising to Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Corporate Engagement for Africa, before serving as Chief Communications Officer at Benson Hill and running her own agri-food consulting practice, DiNicola LLC.

Lilac Agriculture raised a $2.3M oversubscribed seed round led by Innova, with backing from seven investors, and launched its first commercial product, PL11, a shelf-stable rhizobium powder for pea and lentil seed treatment, with Canada registration underway.