BIO Recognizes Industry Leaders for Groundbreaking Work in Agricultural, Environmental Biotech

WASHINGTON - June 5, 2024 – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced the winners of the organization’s 2024 Leadership in Agri-Biotechnology Awards — honoring Dr. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, as the recipient of the George Washington Carver Award and Sylvia Wulf, president and CEO of AquaBounty Technologies, as the recipient of the Rosalind Franklin Award. The two awards recognize biotechnology leaders who are driving cutting-edge breakthroughs in agricultural, environmental, and industrial biotechnology. 

“The recipients of this year’s Leadership in Agri-Biotechnology Awards both represent what’s possible through biotech innovation and how our industry is leading the way when it comes to agricultural and environmental solutions,” BIO President and CEO John F. Crowley said. “Through their commitment to strengthening our ecosystems through innovative scientific discovery, Annette and Sylvia have delivered evidence-based, market-ready products that will pave the way for future innovations and technologies to improve food security, strengthen the bioeconomy, and promote environmental sustainability around the world.”

Dr. Kleiser co-founded Dalan Animal Health in 2019 to develop breakthrough vaccines for honeybees and other invertebrates. There, she helped lead the discovery and launch of the first vaccine for bees and, drawing on her skills in biotech drug development, built scientific evidence to bring the vaccine to market. Her team brings together experts from across the world to continue working on ways to apply her novel approach to other biotech solutions. Dr. Kleiser has more than 20 years of experience in business development, start-up formation, corporate strategy development, and alliance management, both in university technology transfer and the biotechnology industry, and her projects have aimed to help transition an idea from the lab to the marketplace.

The George Washington Carver Award, sponsored by the Iowa Biotechnology Association, recognizes significant contributions by individuals in the fields of agriculture and environmental biotechnology. This award emphasizes the important goal of using biotech innovation to develop sustainable value chains. By honoring those who have worked successfully toward this goal in the private sector, government, or academia, it serves as a memorial to the original vision of George Washington Carver who, over a century ago, pioneered the creation and commercialization of sustainable biobased products and materials and energy derived from renewable agricultural feedstock. 

Wulf is the president and CEO of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., leading commercialization and growth of the world’s first genetically engineered animal approved for food, AquaBounty’s salmon. She came to the company with an understanding and belief in the important role biotechnology must play in securing a safe, affordable, and sustainable food supply. Under her leadership, AquaBounty has transitioned from a biotechnology company to a food company with a biotechnology product and established itself as an expert in land-based aquaculture, become a trusted supplier of fresh salmon to the U.S. market and showing the world that consumers will accept a genetically modified food animal. 

The Rosalind Franklin Award recognizes a pioneering woman in the agriculture and/or environmental biotechnology sectors who has made significant contributions to advancing the bioeconomy and biotech innovation. It is named after Rosalind Franklin, who was instrumental in the discovery and greater understanding of the molecular structure of DNA through her use of X-ray diffraction images. It honors women who have shown exemplary leadership, led the way through previously uncharted territory, and made significant contributions to the industry.

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About BIO

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is the world’s largest trade association representing 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. Good Day BIO is the only daily newsletter at the intersection of biotech, politics and policy. Subscribe here.