KENNETT - Governor Matt Blunt today announced the creation of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Plant Biotechnology to help Missouri secure its place in the developing plant science and agricultural industries.

"Value-added agriculture and plant life sciences hold phenomenal potential to promote economic growth that will sustain Missouri’s economy for generations to come," Blunt said. "To position our state at the top of this burgeoning industry, we must forge a strong partnership among Missouri farmers, business, scientists and government to provide innovative and dynamic leadership."

The advisory council will be charged with analyzing the state’s current life sciences environment to determine how the state can better capitalize on the industry’s potential, serving as an aggressive recruitment committee to attract new life sciences companies to Missouri and determining if a state-based regulatory structure is desirable.

Blunt has appointed nine imminently qualified individuals that represent all of the facets of the plant life sciences industry, which include agriculture, government, economics, science and industry. The council will report to Blunt and will help Missouri leverage its current assets, both financial and human, to drive development of this new industry, which represents the next great economic and technological revolution.

The Governor’s Council for Plant Biotechnology members will include:

Mr. Fred Ferrell, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Greg Steinhoff, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Dr. Bill Danforth, Chairman, Board of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Chancellor Emeritus, Washington University.
Mr. Charlie Kruse, President, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation.
Mr. Dale Ludwig, Executive Director/CEO, Missouri Soybean Association.
Dr. Roger Beachy, President, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Dr. Jerry Caulder, former chairman and CEO, Mycogen Corporation.
Dr. Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, Endowed Professor, Agribusiness and Director, Economics and Management of Biotechnology Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mr. Melvin D. Booth, Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, MedImmune, Inc.

More information about Council members’ backgrounds is available through the Governor’s Communications Office.

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