BIO Presents Leadership and Legacy Award to Sharon Bomer Lauritsen
The former USTR and USDA official becomes the first woman to receive the prestigious honor
Washington, D.C. (September 22, 2020) –The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today presented Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, founder of AgTrade Strategies LLC, former Assistant United States Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy, and a past leader of BIO’s Food and Agriculture Section, with the fifth annual BIO Leadership and Legacy Award.
“I am honored to accept this award for my work to advance agricultural biotechnology in U.S. trade policy,” said Bomer Lauritsen. “But I also recognize the critical work that U.S. government civil servants undertake every day to support the use and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology by farmers around the world.”
Bomer Lauritsen served at USTR for more than 16 years, helping lead agricultural trade negotiations with Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and at the World Trade Organization. Prior to joining USTR, she helped advance U.S. agriculture on the world stage by serving in senior management positions for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. She served as BIO’s Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture from 2007 to 2011.
“Each year, this award highlights those that have left a legacy on our industry, and Sharon’s tireless work to advance U.S. agriculture on the global stage perfectly embodies what this honor stands for,” said Dana O’Brien, Executive Vice President of BIO’s Food and Agriculture Section. “Her leadership helped lay the groundwork for the growth of the modern bioeconomy. Her work helped drive international acceptance of biotechnology that enables farmers to be part of the solution to our world’s most complex challenges—like addressing climate change and creating resilient supply chains.”
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen becomes the fifth recipient of the Leadership and Legacy Award and joins Mario Pennisi, Queensland; Dr. Larry Walker, Industrial Biotechnology Journal; Dr. Gord Surgeoner, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies; and Dr. Ganesh Kishore, Managing Partner, Spruce Capital Partners.
Bomer Lauritsen will be honored during a fireside chat along with the George Washington Carver and Rosalind Franklin Award recipients at the BIO IMPACT Digital Ag & Environment Conference on September 22, 2020.
For more information, about BIO IMPACT Digital click here.
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