Vermont Representative Harvey Smith Awarded BIO State Legislator of the Year Award

Boston (May 7, 2007) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today honored former Vermont State Representative Harvey Smith (R) with the BIO State Legislator of the Year Award for his leadership and support for agricultural biotechnology in Vermont.    

“As a legislative leader and former Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Representative Smith has been a strong advocate for agricultural biotechnology in Vermont,” said Jim Greenwood, president and chief executive officer of BIO.  “In his role as President of the Addison County Farm Bureau, Representative Smith has played an instrumental role in educating Vermont residents, farmers, legislators, and regulators about the benefits of plant biotechnology.  This is a key element in ensuring the continued adoption of this powerful technology, which can benefit the environment, farm economies, and consumers.”

Representative Smith served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1999-2006, representing Addison County.  He recently retired from public office, as well as a lifetime of dairy farming.  As a member of the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Advisory Board, he served in several agricultural industry boards, and is a member of the Agri-Mark/Cabot Cooperative.  In addition to serving as president of the Addison County Farm Bureau, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and was a past member of the Board of Directors of the United Dairy Industries Association.

“Under Representative Smith’s leadership, Vermont farmers were encouraged to become involved with legislative issues around agriculture,” continued Greenwood.  “He has worked tirelessly to help give Vermont farmers a voice in the legislative process and to respond to misinformation about agricultural biotechnology.”

Representative Smith received the award during the 2007 BIO International Convention. 

“Representative Smith understands the promise of biotechnology to create a better world.  We thank him for supporting and encouraging public policy that enables our industry to pursue this promise,” said Greenwood.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations.  BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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