BIO Announces Beth Ellikidis as Vice President, Agriculture and Environment
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that Beth Ellikidis has joined BIO as Vice President, Agriculture and Environment. In her role, Beth will lead the policy and market access strategies for BIO’s Agriculture and Environment section, which includes member companies developing and producing breakthrough technologies in food and agriculture, biobased manufacturing and renewable energy.
“Beth brings to BIO a blend of public policy expertise across the agriculture and health care sectors,” said Rachel King, interim president and CEO of BIO. “Beth’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to promote new solutions by companies that are working to address all the critical issues we face, from food safety and security to animal health, climate change, and soil and water conservation.”
Beth comes to BIO from the animal health company Zoetis, where she has been head of U.S. public affairs for almost six years. She previously directed public policy for ethanol, energy and renewable products at the National Corn Growers Association and headed up legislative affairs and political advocacy for the National Grain and Feed Association. She was previously legislative director for Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and legislative assistant for Reps. John Salazar (D-Colo.) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.). Beth earned her master’s degree in political management from the George Washington University, a certificate in global business from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics from George Mason University. Beth grew up on a dairy farm in central Virginia that her father still operates today.
“I’m excited to join BIO, an organization that recognizes the importance of agricultural innovation both today and in our future,” said Beth Ellikidis. “BIO is uniquely positioned to open doors to policy makers, and I’m honored to be part of its work to grow trust in biotechnology and ensure access to the technologies farmers and biomanufacturers need to be productive and sustainable. The innovation within agriculture is vital to maintaining a healthy food supply and protecting our climate and needs to be celebrated and further supported.”
