Rita Abi-Ghanem, PhD, Senior Director of Research & Development at Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN), has been appointed to a 2-year term to serve as a member of the Agricultural Science Committee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Science Advisory Board (SAB). Her term begins on October 1, 2016.

The EPA SAB Agricultural Science Committee is a new standing committee created as a result of the Agricultural Act of 2014. The Committee will provide advice to the chartered SAB on matters referred to the Board that EPA and the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, determine will have a significant direct impact on farming and agriculture-related industries. Selection criteria for Committee members included demonstrated scientific credentials and disciplinary expertise in agriculture-related sciences, demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively on committees, and background and experiences that would contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the committee, e.g., geographic, economic, social, cultural, and educational backgrounds, and professional affiliations.

Dr. Abi-Ghanem—a Fulbright Scholar who earned her doctorate in Soil Science from Washington State University, her MSc degree in Plant Protection from the American University of Beirut, and her BSc in Agricultural Engineering from Lebanese University in Lebanon—states that she is deeply honored to be selected for this position, and she looks forward to working with other scientists from around the United States to provide advice and scientific perspective on important agricultural issues.

BHN CEO Lyndon Smith stated that Bio Huma Netics is very proud of Dr. Abi-Ghanem’s accomplishments and her appointment to this EPA committee and that he appreciates having someone as distinguished as Dr. Abi-Ghanem leading BHN’s research & development initiatives.

In addition to serving on the EPA SAB Agricultural Science Committee, Dr. Abi-Ghanem is an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University (WSU) and serves as a member of the Humic Products Trade Association Science Committee; the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Research and Education Committee; the Arizona Department of Agriculture Pesticide Advisory Committee; and is Chair-Elect for 2016 and Chair for 2017 of the Women-in-Science Committee of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).

Dr. Abi-Ghanem was further honored earlier this year when she was presented the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) 2016 Young Professional Award. That award cited Dr. Abi-Ghanem’s early work in assessing seed-borne diseases on wheat and barley landraces in a rural area that borders Syria and participation in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Agricultural Research Connections 2013 Workshop in Kenya. She also participated in the Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project, in which she and others from Washington State University and four other American universities trained Iraqi agricultural extension agents and scientists through sessions held in 2007–2008 in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.

# # #

 About Bio Huma Netics Inc.

Founded in Mesa, Arizona in 1973, Bio Huma Netics, Inc., (BHN) is a global leader in providing sustainable solutions to the world’s environmental challenges for agriculture (HUMA GRO^®); horticulture, turf & ornamentals (HUMA GRO^® TURF); and soil & wastewater remediation (PROBIOTIC SOLUTIONS^®) through its constantly improving proprietary Micro Carbon Technology^®. Learn more at www.bhn.us.

Gilbert, AZ: Rita Abi-Ghanem, PhD, Senior Director of Research and Development at Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN), has been presented with the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) 2016 Young Professional Award. The Award, presented on June 6 at the AIARD annual conference in Washington, DC, was established in 1990 to recognize early career contributions that demonstrate “commitment to and advocacy for international agricultural development and contributions to improving the quality of life for the world’s poor.”

Dr. Abi-Ghanem’s contributions to AIARD cited during the awards ceremony included her participation in the 2009 Future Leaders Forum, at which she was awarded Outstanding Future Leader; collaboration on the United Nations Biodiversity Program, in which she assessed seed-borne diseases on wheat and barley landraces in a rural area that borders Syria; and participation in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Agricultural Research Connections Workshop in 2013 in Kenya. She also participated in the Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project, in which she and others from Washington State University and four other American universities trained Iraqi agricultural extension agents and scientists through sessions held in 2007–2008 in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Abi-Ghanem shared her personal vision of using science to improve agriculture as one important step in achieving a peaceful world. She encouraged other young agricultural scientists to share the vision: “We have the tools and the ability to reduce hunger, which will reduce conflict and make the world a better place for all of us: All we need is the vision, the heart, and the determination to use these tools and abilities well.”

BHN CEO Lyndon Smith stated that he is very proud of Dr. Abi-Ghanem and pleased with AIARD’s recognition of her accomplishments through this award. “Dr. Abi-Ghanem is a remarkable scientist, and her leadership helps BHN and everyone she works with keep their focus on improving agriculture to improve the world.”

Dr. Abi-Ghanem—who is also an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University and serves as a member of the Humic Products Trade Association Science Committee, the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Research and Education Committee, and the Arizona Department of Agriculture Pesticide Advisory Committee—was elected earlier this year to be 2017 Chair of the Women-in-Science Committee of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. She was a Fulbright Scholar and earned her doctorate in Soil Science from Washington State University, her MSc degree in Plant Protection from the American University of Beirut, and her BSc in Agricultural Engineering from Lebanese University in Lebanon.

# # # 

About Bio Huma Netics Inc.

Founded in Mesa, Arizona, in 1973, Bio Huma Netics, Inc., (BHN) is a global leader in providing sustainable solutions to the world’s environmental challenges for agriculture (HUMA GRO^®); horticulture, turf & ornamentals (HUMA GRO^® TURF); and water & wastewater (PROBIOTIC SOLUTIONS^®) through its constantly improving Micro Carbon Technology^®. Learn more at www.bhn.us.                                                                                                                           Publication No. BHN-160607-01

Justin Smith has been named Executive Vice President of Huma Gro^® Sales at Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN). Smith, a graduate of Brigham Young University, has held the progressive responsibilities of Latin America Sales Manager, Director of International Sales, and Vice President of International Sales since he joined the organization in 2008.

BHN CEO Lyndon Smith made the announcement, saying, “Justin has demonstrated exceptional sales leadership in our international markets, tripling Huma Gro^® product sales there since he took responsibility for those markets. We at BHN are looking forward to seeing him continue that success in his new position as he assumes responsibility for Huma Gro^® sales in U.S. domestic markets, as well.”

Justin Smith says, “I’m looking forward to taking those lessons learned in international sales and applying them to our U.S. markets. One of my initial priorities is to expand our distributor network to make sure that growers throughout the United States have access to our full line of Huma Gro^® liquid nutrient and crop protection products. Our proprietary Micro Carbon Technology® can help growers do more with less—and do it in an ecologically sustainable way, a very important benefit to growers and consumers alike in today’s economy.”

BHN’s line of more than 50 Huma Gro^® products for agriculture, turf, and greenhouses includes categories of sustainable soil fertility, optimal growth managers, macronutrients, micronutrients, zero-residue crop protection, surfactants, and carbon-rich organic acids.

# # #

About Bio Huma Netics Inc.

Founded in Mesa, Arizona, in 1973, Bio Huma Netics, Inc., (BHN) is a global leader in providing sustainable solutions to the world’s environmental challenges for agriculture (HUMA GRO^®); horticulture, turf & ornamentals (HUMA GRO^® TURF); and water & wastewater (PROBIOTIC SOLUTIONS^®) through its constantly improving Micro Carbon Technology^®. Learn more at www.bhn.us.

Publication No. BHN-160216-02

Rita Abi-Ghanem, PhD, Senior Director of Research and Development at Bio Huma Netics, Inc. (BHN), has been selected as Chair-Elect for 2016 and Chair for 2017 of the Women-in-Science Committee of the Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS). ACSESS member organizations include American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).

Dr. Abi-Ghanem—who is also an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University (WSU) and serves as a member of the Humic Products Trade Association Science Committee, the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation Research and Education Committee, and the Arizona Department of Agriculture Pesticide Advisory Committee—states that she is deeply honored to be selected for this position, and she looks forward to working with scientists from around the globe to bring more women into the sciences and help them achieve success. “Women face unique challenges in the sciences, and the work this committee does to ensure that women scientists can fully contribute to the missions of our three societies is very important to the success of the societies.”

The ACSESS Women-in-Science Committee has the following goals:

• Promoting the status of women in the three societies
• Encouraging women to achieve professional excellence
• Establishing networks of women in the agronomic, crops, soils, and environmental sciences
• Sponsoring meetings to address issues of special concerns to professional women in our sciences
• Fostering the informal exchange of information and contacts in support of professional activities of women

BHN CEO Lyndon Smith stated that he is very pleased with this recognition of Dr. Abi-Ghanem’s contributions to science and of her standing in the international science community. “Dr. Abi-Ghanem is a remarkable scientist, and she will do an outstanding job as role model and catalyst for increasing opportunities for women to successfully contribute to the soil and agronomic sciences.”

# # #

 About Bio Huma Netics Inc.

Founded in Mesa, Arizona, in 1973, Bio Huma Netics, Inc., (BHN) is a global leader in providing sustainable solutions to the world’s environmental challenges for agriculture (HUMA GRO^®); horticulture, turf & ornamentals (HUMA GRO^® TURF); and water & wastewater (PROBIOTIC SOLUTIONS^®) through its constantly improving Micro Carbon Technology^®. Learn more at www.bhn.us.

Publication No. BHN-160216-01