AMES, Iowa — A gift from Monsanto Company will establish a scholarship in corn breeding at Iowa State University to honor the memory of world-renowned plant breeder, agriculture visionary and alumnus Theodore “Ted” Crosbie.
The Ted Crosbie Monsanto Graduate Scholarship in Corn Breeding will honor Crosbie, who led Monsanto’s global plant-breeding team for 16 years. He later served as vice president and executive leader of Monsanto Integrated Farming Systems, and was recognized as a Monsanto Distinguished Fellow of Science. Crosbie retired from Monsanto in 2014, and died in 2016.
The scholarship was announced June 22, at a dedication event honoring Crosbie at the Monsanto Learning Center facility near Huxley.
Eligible scholarship recipients will be pursuing a master’s degree or doctorate in the Iowa State agronomy department with a focus on corn breeding. Preference will be given to applicants who are Iowa residents.
Crosbie graduated from Iowa State in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, and master’s and doctorate degrees in plant breeding and cytogenetics, in 1976 and 1978.
He started with Monsanto in 1996 after holding several academic and corporate positions, including president and CEO of ICI Seeds from 1990 to 1996. He also served as a graduate faculty member in agronomy at Iowa State, prior to 1990.
Crosbie co-founded the Biosciences Alliance of Iowa and participated in numerous industry and economic development boards as well as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ advisory council.
He was a past recipient of the college’s Floyd Andre Award and was presented Iowa State University’s highest alumni honor — the Distinguished Alumni Award.
He was recognized in 2013 by Gov. Branstad with a lifetime achievement award from the Iowa Innovation Corp. for his efforts to support innovation and job creation. In 2005, Crosbie was named the chief technology officer for the state of Iowa.