The Council for Agricultural Science & Technology (CAST) has named Dr. Frank Mitloehner as the 2019 Borlaug CAST Communication Award recipient. Mitloehner, a professor and air quality extension specialist in the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis) department of animal science, is the 10th recipient of this award.

“I’m honored to be selected by CAST, an organization I’ve long admired, and to be in the company of so many recipients who have inspired me during my career,” Mitloehner said. “Being recognized with the Borlaug CAST Communication Award is not only a high honor; it’s an affirmation of the importance of sharing research and academic pursuits well beyond labs, classrooms and universities.”

CAST bestows the award annually to a nominated expert in the agricultural, environmental or food sectors. The nominee must show remarkable communication skills through various types of media with the purpose of advancing science in the public policy sector.

Mitloehner’s nominators stated that he reaches beyond academia to inform experts and various members of the public around the globe about animal agriculture’s influence on greenhouse gas emissions. His goal is to change societal views about the influence animals have on the climate through various channels of communication.

“His involvement as a communicator and scientist at the national and global levels has put him and his message in a strategic position to share and influence policy,” one of Mitloehner’s nominators noted.

Numerous like-minded agencies and institutions have reached out for his guidance on timely and relevant issues regarding animal agriculture’s impacts on air quality, including chairing a committee for the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization.

Since he joined UC-Davis in 2002, Mitloehner has amassed more than 800 presentations focused on animal agriculture through various speaking events, such as conferences and professional meetings. He has contributed to national news stories published by CNN, PBS, Newsweek, The Washington Post and other media outlets.

Mitloehner does not shy away from social media, either. His Twitter account (@GHGGuru) has more than 7,000 followers. In late 2018, Mitloehner launched GHG Guru Blog, a personal website with the goal of delivering the “latest, most accurate research” focused on the intersection between animal agriculture and the climate.

“Science for science’s sake has no role in making our world more sustainable. Sharing what we know -- and backing it up with facts -- leads to discussions and solutions,” Mitloehner said.

The Borlaug CAST Communication Award is sponsored by the CropLife Foundation. CAST announced the 2019 recipient at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Whitten Building in Washington, D.C., on April 16. An award presentation will be held during a side event at the World Food Prize Symposium on Oct. 16.