A distinguished professor of animal science at Brigham Young University has been named the new director of the Ezra Taft Benson Agriculture and Food Institute.
N. Paul Johnston, a member of the BYU faculty since 1971, replaces former director James B. Jensen. The new appointment became effective Sept. 15.The Ezra Taft Benson Institute was named in honor of the late president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was highly involved in agriculture, serving as the U.S. secretary of agriculture for all eight years of the the Eisenhower administration.
The institute's mission is to raise the quality of life for the people of the world through sharing advances and knowledge in agriculture, animal science, nutrition and public health, including recent efforts to improve small-scale farming techniques in Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico.
A BYU alumni, Johnston received a master's degree in poultry science from Oregon State University and a master's of business administration from the University of Utah before completing a doctorate in poultry science from Oregon State University in 1971.