Dr. Michelle Starke is the Director of Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs at CoverCress Inc. Her role encompasses the multiple regulatory and stewardship efforts needed to bring CoverCressTM, a new winter annual oilseed crop that will be used as a feedstock for renewable fuel and high protein animal feed to market. She has over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry. Previously, Michelle held roles at Monsanto and Bayer in regulatory affairs, commercial stewardship and stakeholder outreach for agricultural seed products.

Michelle received her Ph. D. from University of Kentucky. She grew up on a small family farm in Southern Illinois. She currently lives in St. Louis with her husband and two children.