ARLINGTON, VA, – [November 3, 2026] – AgGateway leadership is pleased to announce that Matthias Nachtmann has been appointed as the organization’s Europe Regional Director, effective January 1, 2027. He will succeed Conny Graumans, who is retiring at the end of the year.
An agriculture engineer and digital agriculture executive, Nachtmann brings more than 25 years of international experience in digital farming, agriculture data interoperability, and value chain collaboration, including more than a decade leading digital initiatives at BASF Agricultural Solutions.
Matthias Nachtmann
“AgGateway has a strong history of bringing the agricultural industry together to enable efficient data exchange and interoperability,” says Nachtmann. “Building on the foundation Conny has established in Europe, I see a tremendous opportunity to extend connectivity beyond traditional business transactions to the growing range of data needed across agricultural operations and value chains for efficient farm operation and sustainable productivity.”
“Matthias has great knowledge about data sharing developments and challenges in agricultural production chains and brings an enormous network covering agricultural industries, research institutions, and governmental bodies,” says Graumans. “I have known him personally for many years and I am very pleased that he will be leading AgGateway’s efforts in the region in the years ahead.”
Nachtmann expressed deep respect for Conny’s decades of expertise, outstanding industry reputation, and remarkable personal ability to connect people with humility and trust. “I feel privileged to build upon the strong foundation he has established.”
Nachtmann says his key priority will be to create tangible value for European members by turning common challenges into practical, interoperable solutions that improve efficiency, support better decisions, and enable new business opportunities.
“In line with AgGateway’s strategy of Implement, Impact, and Advocate, I look forward to strengthening collaboration across Europe, connecting regional and global initiatives, and accelerating the adoption of digital standards that deliver measurable benefits to agriculture,” says Nachtmann. “Ultimately, my ambition is to connect agricultural data, standards, and people to turn interoperability into measurable value for farming and food value chains.”
Graumans departs AgGateway after having been an integral part of the organization’s Europe Region efforts from the very beginning of its global expansion in 2014. “Conny has ably led AgGateway efforts in Europe since its inception, and we wish him well in his retirement,” says Kemp.
“I want to thank all my AgGateway colleagues for the pleasant, constructive, and professional work we’ve done together during the past ten years,” says Graumans. “It has been a privilege to work with so many outstanding companies and organizations.”
“Conny really was Mr. AgGateway, and he made AgGateway a household name in the European landscape,” says Klaus-Herbert Rolf, Chairman of the AgGateway Europe Steering Committee. “Together with the Strategy Committee, he championed the unique aspects of European trends and developments and helped ensure they played a significant role in AgGateway’s global strategy. The AgGateway Europe Steering Committee is grateful for the time spent with Conny and looks forward to the coming years with Matthias.”
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AgGateway is a global, non-profit organization with the mission to develop the resources and relationships that drive digital connectivity in global agriculture and related industries. Learn more at www.aggateway.org.