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QUALISOY™ Announces 2011 Board Members

ST. LOUIS - QUALISOY™, a soybean industry initiative charged with helping to bring to market trait-enhanced soybeans that produce healthier, more functional soybean oil, has announced its board members for 2011. Victor Bohuslavsky, Executive Director of the Nebraska Soybean Board, was elected as Chairman of the QUALISOY Board for 2011. Mr. Bohuslavsky has been a member of the board since its start in 2004, and most recently held the position of vice chairman.

“I am thrilled to lead the QUALISOY board this year as we usher in new soybean products with traits that will benefit consumers, food companies and farmers alike,” said Mr. Bohuslavsky. “This is an exciting time to be involved with QUALISOY. New traits -- such as high oleic – are providing opportunities for all members of the value chain to benefit. Consumers are getting healthier oils, food companies are enjoying increased functionality, and farmers are growing higher value, in-demand soybeans with positive agronomics,” he added.

 The 2011 executive committee includes the following individuals:

• Chairman – Victor Bohuslavsky, Nebraska Soybean Board

• Vice Chair – John Jansen, Bunge Foods

• Secretary/Treasurer – Dale Profit, United Soybean Board

• At Large – Ken Dalenberg, United Soybean Board (past director)

New Board members were also announced during the meeting, and include Russ Sanders, Director, DuPont enhanced Oils Venture; Rob Hanks, a soybean farmer and member of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association; and Jane Ade Stevens, Executive director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

“The QUALISOY Board provides farmer-leaders, food companies, processers, and technology partners a unique opportunity to work together for the good of the industry,” said John Becherer, QUALISOY CEO.  “For example, previous trait developments such as low-linolenic preserved millions of pounds of soybean oil utilization, and we have even higher hopes for newer traits like high oleic and omega-3.”

QUALISOY’s 22-member Board of Directors sets research priorities, evaluates existing and emerging technologies, and helps identify future soybean trait enhancements that would benefit the food and feed industries. For additional information on new soybean oil traits, QUALISOY’s activities and its Board of Directors, visit www.QUALISOY.com.