Anthony G. Laos, president and CEO of
StaufferSeeds, is one
of six people appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as
a member of the Board for International Food and Agriculture
Development.
Laos, who has been president and CEO of Omaha-based
StaufferSeeds since 1991, will serve a three-year term on the
President’s board. StaufferSeeds produces high-quality hybrid
seed corn for the company's market in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota,
Kansas, Texas and surrounding areas.
"I am honored to have been selected by the President and am
looking forward to serving as a member of the board," Laos said.
"This is a very exciting time to be a member of the board as
positive advancements in new technologies occur and as we strive
to obtain the highest level of food safety."
Laos has been proactive in the development of specialty trait
protein products grown in corn. He has been especially active in
engineering growing systems that are helping define regulatory
standards and the safe production of plants from new
technologies.
Others named to the board were Michael Deegan of Virginia,
Stuart Iverson, Jr. of Iowa, William DeLauder of Delaware, Carol
Lewis of Alaska and Sharron Quisenberry of Montana.
The Board for International Food and Agricultural Development
(BIFAD) is the only presidentially appointed board to advise and
assist the Administrator for International Development in
developing and implementing the official U.S. foreign assistance
program.
BIFAD was created with the enactment of Title XII of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, in December 1975.
The main purpose of Title XII legislation has been to strengthen
land-grant universities and other institutions to apply more
effective agricultural sciences to increase world food
production.
The members of BIFAD provide professional, intellectual
guidance to USAID and have established credibility with USDA,
the Department of Commerce and the Department of State. BIFAD's
members have been called on to provide Congressional testimony
regarding various USAID and international programs. Peter
McPherson is the current Chair of BIFAD.
StaufferSeeds is a hybrid seed corn company based in
Omaha, Neb. The company is focused and driven to provide high
quality hybrid seed corn to their customers.
StaufferSeeds is also working with ProdiGene Inc. of
College Station, Texas to develop a proprietary value added
Identity Containment System (ICSSM) seed line. ICS
corn products are bred to produce pharmaceutical and industrial
proteins in corn plants. ProdiGene is a leader in development
and manufacturing of recombinant proteins from transgenic
plants. StaufferSeeds is ProdiGene’s exclusive provider of seed
production for this novel protein production.
Anthony Laos is one of the pioneers of the biotechnology
industry. As Vice President of the Agricultural Seed Division at
Stauffer Chemical in 1977, Laos spearheaded the company's
research into plant protection through the genetic sciences.
Recognizing an opportunity to carry on the seed corn brand and
tradition, Laos began operating StaufferSeeds. As president and
CEO since 1991, he has overseen the company's production of
high-quality hybrid seed corn for growers in Nebraska, Iowa,
Minnesota, Kansas, Texas and surrounding areas. He brings
extensive operational experience and expertise in development of
plant-based products. Laos' past positions include Group Vice
President of Agri-Products at Northup King; Vice President and
General Manager of Stauffer Seeds division at Stauffer Chemical;
and Director of Market Development and Sales, Elanco Products
Company division of Eli Lilly and Company. Laos has served on
the ProdiGene Board of Directors for the past four years.
