SASKATOON, Oct. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Dallas Howe, Chair of the Board of Directors, Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Maurice Moloney as the Institute's Executive Director and CEO. Dr. Moloney's research and entrepreneurial background will enhance GIFS' ability to deliver on its mission to bring Saskatchewan-led research and innovation to the pressing issue of global food security.
"We are pleased to have Dr. Moloney, a respected and internationally recognized scientist, lead the Institute. He brings agricultural research expertise and organizational building skills that will help take GIFS to the next level both here in Canada and internationally," said Howe. "Under his leadership, we know the Institute will grow as a substantial contributor of solutions to the global issue of food security."
For more than 25 years, Dr. Moloney's career in plant research has resulted in innovations which have spanned across industry, academia and the public sector. He joins GIFS from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) where he led a team working on science-based solutions to address major global challenges such as the need to increase sustainable agricultural productivity.
"I am excited about the tremendous opportunities GIFS offers not just to me but to Saskatchewan, Canada and the world. The challenge of food security continues to dominate global discussions and impacts all of us as producers and consumers," said Dr. Moloney. "Saskatchewan is a major contributor to global research and innovation and the Institute will leverage these and other resources to enhance food systems and production that address global food security challenges and the future of food and nutrition. I am looking forward to returning to Canada and making Saskatoon my home."
Prior to CSIRO, Dr. Moloney was the Director and Chief Executive Officer of one of the oldest and largest agricultural research centres in Europe – Rothamsted Research.
He also held positions with the University of Calgary where he was the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Research Chair in plant biotechnology.
Dr. Moloney assumes GIFS' operational and program leadership as of October 6, 2014.
GIFS was established in December 2012 through the collaboration of its founding partners – PotashCorp, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. With initial commitments of up to $35 million from PotashCorp and $15 million from the Province over seven years, the Institute will address the increasing global demand for safe, reliable and nutritious food. Housed at the University of Saskatchewan, the Institute funds and facilitates collaboration on research projects that will result in much needed technological, economic, nutritional and environmental improvements to the food supply system both at home and around the world.
www.globalinstituteforfoodsecurity.org
Image with caption: "Global Institute for Food Security logo (CNW Group/Global Institute for Food Security)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141003_C1741_PHOTO_EN_6287.jpg
SOURCE: Global Institute for Food Security
Betty Anne Stevenson, Director, Communications and Marketing, 1-306-966-3704
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