FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Governor Blunt Receives National Biotechnology Leadership Award
ST. LOUIS—Gov. Matt Blunt today received the national Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) "Award for Leadership Excellence" for his support of bioscience industry development in Missouri.
"Gov. Blunt has made development of innovative technologies a major tenet of his administration since being elected governor," said Hugh Grant, president and chief executive officer of Monsanto Corporation. "The governor understands the value and potential of the life sciences, particularly as they apply to making Missouri a world-renown center of excellence for technology development."
Blunt received the award during the initial meeting of the Advisory Council for Plant Biotechnology in St. Louis. Created by the governor earlier this year, the council will analyze the state’s current life sciences environment to determine how the state can better capitalize on the industry’s potential.
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
"Missouri is fortunate to have a committed public servant like Governor Blunt at the helm," Grant said. "The bioscience industry is fortunate as well to have an advocate as committed as Governor Blunt."
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