LJWorld.com

The state's top administrator and promoter of agricultural programs is the winner of one of the top awards in the biotechnology industry.

Adrian Polansky, secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, received the BIO State Executive of the Year Award on Tuesday.

The recognition came during the 2007 BIO International Convention in Boston, an event organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and described as the world's largest bioscience convention.

Leaders of both BIO and the Kansas Bioscience Organization (KansasBio) honored Polansky for his leadership and support for biotechnology in Kansas and across the country.

"Secretary Polansky is a strong advocate for agricultural production and research, supporting the biotechnology industry in the development of alternative fuels, plant-made pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge seed technologies," said Jim Greenwood, BIO's president and chief executive officer. "The biotechnology industry appreciates his leadership in Kansas to attract biotech research and facilities.

"He has also worked with his peers across the country in all other state government to encourage them to explore new technologies to learn how they can benefit their local economies, residents and the environment."

During the convention, KansasBio also presented several state awards:

¢ Academic R&D Award: Kansas University and Kansas University Medical Center, for growth in academic research and development efforts.

¢ R&D Magnet Award: Heartland BioAgro Consortium, the group working to attract a $451 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, for its efforts to position the state for success in securing additional research and development.

¢ Kansas' Hot Spot Awards, highlighting the state's success in business attraction, came in five categories: Large Company, Quintiles Transnational; Emerging Company, Ventria Bioscience; Expansion Award, ICM; Big League Bio Rookie, CyDex; Innovative Program, KTEC Pipeline.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations.

KansasBio, a state affiliate, was founded in 2004 and works across human, plant, animal and industrial biosciences to enhance the state's business and research climate, plus work to attract and retain bioscience talent, companies and financing.