Syngenta scientist Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton named 2015 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee

The US National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) announced its 2015 class of inductees. Among the 14 honored is scientist Mary-Dell Chilton, Ph.D., a distinguished science fellow at Syngenta and founder of the company’s biotechnology research labs.

“My career in biotechnology has been an exciting journey and I am amazed to see the progress we have made over the years,” said Dr. Chilton. “My hope is through discoveries like mine and the discoveries to follow, we will be able to provide a brighter and better future for the generations that follow us.”

Dr. Chilton’s work with plant biotechnology led her to produce the first transgenic plant in 1983 and showed plant genomes could be altered more precisely than previously thought. Her work at the Syngenta biotech research center eventually led to the ability of plants to resist insects and disease, and tolerate extreme environmental conditions. Dr. Chilton was recently awarded the World Food Prize, the foremost international award recognizing the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

NIHF was established in 1973 and honors those who have conceived, patented and perfected technological and scientific advancements that have led to growth for both the United States and beyond. All of the NIHF inductees hold a U.S. patent and have changed the world through human, social, and/or economic progress. Dr. Chilton’s work is among four other women who will be recognized.

Dr. Chilton, fellow NIHF 2015 inductees and previous inductees will be honored at a three-day event, which will be held in Washington, D.C. in May.