Minnesota Crop Improvement Association Announces New President/CEO

(May 20, 2015) — Paul Adams, Chair, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Fawad Shahas the new President/CEO of the association effective June 1, 2015. Dr. Shah will take over as President/CEO upon the retirement of Ben Lang, who has served as the association’s President/CEO since June 1, 2008.

Dr. Shah received a Bachelor and a Master of Science from the University of Ag, Pakistan in 1989 and 1991, respectively. He received a PhD in Seed Technology – Agronomy in 1997 and obtained a Masters in Business Administration in 2001 from Mississippi State University. Most recently, Dr. Shah served as the Director of the Seed Regulatory and Testing Division at the United States Department of Agriculture. Previously in his career, he served as Grain and Seed Administrator for the Commodity Inspection Division at Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA); as Seed Program Manager, WSDA; and various other positions.

His experience working with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) program, Federal Seed Act enforcement, seed and variety testing, seed certification, phytosanitary inspections, and regulatory services as well as fiscal, strategic and operational leadership will benefit MCIA as the organization continues to fulfill its mission of serving the needs of its clients.

For over 100 years MCIA has provided programs and services for an ever-changing agricultural world. These include seed certification and quality assurance services, organic certification, foundation seed services, and customized programs for seed and IP grains. MCIA operates from facilities on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus.

Read the original article on Seed Today here.