---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-21-001688"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RKDA"
cik: "0001469443"
company_name: "Arcadia Biosciences, Inc."
filed_at: "2021-09-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T05:29:18.846842+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Arcadia Biosciences launches CEO search; Matt Plavan to step down when successor named

## Summary
- National CEO search underway as Arcadia expands CPG portfolio; successor expected by year-end 2021.
- CEO Matt Plavan will step down once successor is named; he has led since 2019, transitioning Arcadia from ag-biotech to CPG.
- Transition Agreement: if terminated without cause before Dec 1 2021, Plavan receives $30,833/month consulting through Nov 30 2021.
- Severance: $61,666 on Jan 1 2022, $61,666 on Feb 1 2022, $143,278 on Mar 1 2022; full option vesting conditioned on release.
- Chairman Kevin Comcowich thanked Plavan for leading through a critical transformation and pandemic.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-21-001688
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RKDA
- cik: 0001469443
- company_name: Arcadia Biosciences, Inc.
- filed_at: 2021-09-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1469443/000095017021001688/0000950170-21-001688-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1469443/000095017021001688/rkda-20210903.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-001688
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-001688.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-21-001688.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Matthew Plavan departed as Chief Executive Officer at Arcadia Biosciences, Inc..
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company and Matthew Plavan, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, entered into a Transition Agreement on September 3, 2021
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1469443/000095017021001688/0000950170-21-001688-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.