Dr. Danforth Receives the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association’s Distinguished Service Award

Last week, the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) announced Dr. William H. Danforth as the recipient of its inaugural Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Danforth will be presented the award during the IFAMA Presidential Awards Banquet on June 19, 2013 at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

The IFAMA Distinguished Service Award honors an individual whose pioneering contributions have made significant, transformational impacts to the global food and agribusiness system. Specific areas of accomplishment include: food science and technology, plant and animal science, health and nutrition, resource conservation, economics and finance, and transportation and distribution. In addition, the award recognizes an individual’s measurable impacts on the talent sustainability of the industry – in research, leadership or mentorship roles.

“Dr. Danforth’s leadership, vision, initiative and commitment to the agriculture industry are truly inspiring,” said Mary Shelman, President of IFAMA and Director of the Agribusiness Program at Harvard Business School. “IFAMA is honored to recognize the many contributions that he has made to solving global hunger issues and to making the world a better place for current and future generations.”

Dr. Danforth has spent his entire career influencing fields ranging from education and healthcare to life sciences and philanthropy. While a majority of his career has been spent in the St. Louis region, his efforts have had tremendous global impacts.

Dr. William H. Danforth is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University and Chair of the BioStL Coalition.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April l0, l926, he received his B.A. from Princeton University and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in l95l. After completing his internship in medicine at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, he served in the United States Navy from l952-54. He returned to St. Louis to continue his medical training at Barnes Hospital and at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Danforth joined the Washington University Medical School faculty in l957. In l967, he was appointed professor of internal medicine, which is his present faculty rank at the University. From l965-7l, Dr. Danforth served as Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and as president of the Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Danforth became Washington University’s thirteenth Chancellor July l, l97l and served until his retirement June 30, l995. During this time the University recruited many eminent plant scientists. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Washington University from July l, l995 to June 30, 1999. Dr. Danforth is a member of the Institute of Medicine and served on the Council l977-79.

Dr. Danforth was appointed to chair the Research, Education and Economics Task Force for the USDA by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman in 2003. The Task Force reported in 2004. That report led to legislation by the Congress that established the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, which began with great hopes for support for high quality agricultural research.

He is a trustee of the American Youth Foundation and a former trustee of the Danforth Foundation. He co-chaired of the Board of Directors of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and served on the Boards of Directors of Ralston Purina Company, McDonnell-Douglas Corporation, BJC Health System and Energizer Holdings, Inc.

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