Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, has been named the 2007 Agribusiness Leader of the Year. This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2007 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Think Big!,” April 12, 2007, in Dallas, TX. The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

Ludwig is a visionary leader with a proven record of building coalitions to improve Missouri agriculture. He helped forge producer/agribusiness partnerships that have positioned Missouri as a leader in biodiesel production. In addition, he pioneered the effort to identify new traits in soybeans through biotechnology and helped re-position the U.S. soybean commodity with competitive advantages over global competitors.

Ludwig’s understanding of two changes in agriculture – renewable fuels and biotechnology – created unique approaches to agribusiness research and development as well as farmer involvement in business formation and execution. Ludwig assisted producers and the industry in raising $100 million to finance 10 value-added, new-generation businesses, ranging from biodiesel joint ventures to functional food companies. His vision of independent producers funding research and development and investing in farmer-owned businesses led to strategic positions and ultimate execution of new opportunities for producers such as the development of the QUALISOY™ board. QUALISOY is an industry-wide initiative to transform the commodity with better traits in an effort to combat the trans fat issue associated with hydrogenated soybean oil.

A known and trusted individual among the Missouri congressional delegation, Ludwig helped convince Congress to pass the biodiesel tax credit, a federal incentive driving biodiesel’s growth. Ludwig’s ability to work toward solutions for soybean producers distinguishes him as one of the true champions of the biodiesel effort. Ludwig’s relentless support for biotechnology led to the cooperation between USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and private institutions to create a new paradigm of synergy in the plant-based biotechnology arena.

Ludwig was a founding director on the QUALISOY board. He serves as vice chairman of the Missouri Biotechnology Organization board of directors. In addition, he has served as president of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club. He has also served on numerous agricultural advisory boards for U.S. senators, congressmen, and Missouri’s governor. He currently serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Plant Biotechnology.