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PHILADELPHIA, PA—6 May 2009—The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will present the tenth annual Biotechnology Heritage Award to Robert T. Fraley, father of agricultural biotechnology and Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at the Monsanto Company. As the leader of Monsanto’s Plant Molecular Biology group in the 1980s, Fraley’s early research and his vision of the future of agricultural biotechnology convinced executives that biological solutions could meet the world’s expanding food needs with a lower environmental impact. Because of his work, crops improved to reduce disease and chemical usage are grown by 12 million farmers on more than 282 million acres in twenty-three countries worldwide. The award will be presented at the 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta at a plenary luncheon on Tuesday, May 19.
“Robert Fraley’s dedication to agricultural biotechnology has made possible things that couldn’t have been imagined before: increasing yield providing for more food and fiber, reducing pesticide applications, and increasing tilling to enhance the health of soil,” said James C. Greenwood, president of BIO. “Because of his work, more food, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability through farming are becoming a reality.”
About Robert T. Fraley
Robert Fraley oversees Monsanto’s integrated crop and seed agribusiness technology and research with facilities in most world areas. He has been involved in agricultural biotechnology since the early eighties and has been with Monsanto for a total of 25 years. Fraley has held several positions at Monsanto, including Co-President of Monsanto's Agricultural Sector; President of Monsanto’s Ceregen business unit prior to the merger with Pharmacia & Upjohn with responsibilities for the discovery, development and commercialization of new crop chemical and biotechnology products; Group Vice President and General Manager of the New Products Division; Vice President of Technology for crop chemical and plant biotechnology R&D; Director of Monsanto’s Plant Science Research Group; and Senior Research Specialist, Monsanto Biological Sciences Program.
Fraley’s educational background includes Fellowship from the University of California, San Francisco, a Ph.D in microbiology/biochemistry from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois. Fraley has contributed to years of agricultural development through a number of significant activities, including authoring more than 100 publications and patent applications relating to technical advances in agricultural biotechnology. He received the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 1999 and was awarded the National Award for Agricultural Excellence in Science by National Agri-Marketing Association in 1995.
About the Biotechnology Heritage Award
The Biotechnology Heritage Award is presented yearly at a special ceremony during the BIO Annual International Convention to honor individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of biotechnology through discovery, innovation, commercialization, and/or public understanding. In honoring these individuals, the Chemical Heritage Foundation and the Biotechnology Industry Organization seek to encourage emulation, inspire achievement, and promote public understanding of modern science, industry, and economics in this rapid-growth area.
The award complements the mission of both organizations by advancing their mutual goals of educating the public, nourishing a sense of pride and community within the industry, and developing the record of the remarkable contributions the molecular sciences make to our lives. Previous award winners include Ron Cape, Paul Berg, Herbert W. Boyer, Francis S. Collins, Walter Gilbert, Leroy Hood, George B. Rathmann, William J. Rutter, Phillip A. Sharp, Robert A. Swanson, J. Craig Venter and Alejandro Zaffaroni.
About the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. For more information, please visit www.bio.org.
About the Chemical Heritage Foundation
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society. An independent nonprofit organization, we strive to
- Inspire a passion for chemistry;
- Highlight chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges; and
- Preserve the story of chemistry across centuries.
CHF maintains major collections of instruments, fine art, photographs, papers, and books. We host conferences and lectures, support research, offer fellowships, and produce educational materials. Our museum and public programs explore subjects ranging from alchemy to nanotechnology. |
