Dean C. Oestreich

Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient

College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, September 18, 2008

Dean C. Oestreich received a bachelor's degree in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota in 1974. After graduating, he went to work for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a DuPont Company, which is considered the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics to farmers throughout the world. Over the course of thirty-three years, he advanced through the ranks of the company to become Chairman of Pioneer and Vice President of DuPont. He is credited for the establishment of the first worldwide production planning organization in Pioneer. Under his leadership, Pioneer gained #1 market share positions in both soybeans and corn, and the company's seed sale outside of North America passed the $1 billion mark. He is described as someone who is committed to improving peoples' lives and livelihoods by improving health and safety. One person wrote, "Dean's contributions have helped farmers not only in Minnesota and North America, but throughout the world, and have significantly helped agriculture better meet the world's growing food demand." In addition, he is an active volunteer for several organizations including the Chinese Cultural Center of America, the national FFA organization, the Bioscience Alliance of Iowa, the World Food Prize, and the Young Women's Resource Center of Des Moines.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.