CropLife America hires Dr. Imad Saab as senior director of environmental policy

Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CropLife America (CLA), recently announced that Dr. Imad Saab will join CLA as the senior director of environmental policy, effective March 15, 2016. As senior director, Saab will be responsible for the development, implementation and management of science and regulatory policy strategies on environmental issues to help further CLA’s objectives and strategic plan. He will also work closely with member leaders to manage the Endangered Species Issues Management Team as well as the Environmental Risk Assessment Committee and its working groups.

“Dr. Saab is an exceptional addition to our association,” Vroom stated. “With experience working with regulators and agricultural stakeholders around the world, he will help us to better address pesticide policy challenges for our members in the U.S. Today’s agricultural methods depend on sound science, and Dr. Saab’s expertise in both biotech policy and research will help enhance our advocacy efforts.”

Saab comes to CLA from DuPont Pioneer where his 18-year career spanned research, product development, regulatory policy and capacity building. Most recently, Dr. Saab served as senior manager for biotech & business affairs with global responsibility for regulatory policies for low-level presence of biotech traits in agricultural products. He also led Pioneer’s engagement with seed trade associations around regulatory advocacy for new breeding techniques and spearheaded capacity building initiatives aimed at regulators from key importing countries. Prior to working in policy, Saab served as the leader for seed science research at Pioneer where he created and led a research team focused on delivering products with enhanced tolerance to early-season stress and no-till farming.

At CLA, Saab will report to Dr. Janet E. Collins, senior vice president of science and regulatory policy. “Year after year, our industry continues to advance the tools that farmers can use to protect their crops with reduced environmental impact, and Dr. Saab has extensive experience in developing these vital products,” Collins stated. “We are delighted to have him join our team and help communicate the importance of precise data and scientific methods in evaluating the benefits of pesticide technology.”

Dr. Saab has been an invited speaker at farmer and crop consultant gatherings throughout the U.S. and Canada and has delivered management advice to farmers and extension agents via television, radio, print and online media. He received his Ph.D. in crop science from Cornell University; has held academic positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Missouri; and has authored or co-authored over 25 publications, policy papers, book chapters and extension articles.