Matlock Recognized for Leadership in Agricultural Sustainability

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Jay Hagert, USB Chair, presents the Excellence in Freedom to Operate Award to Marty Matlock, executive director of the U of A Office for Sustainability.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas professor Marty Matlock received the Excellence in Freedom to Operate Award from the United Soybean Board during the Commodity Classic Agricultural Trade Show in New Orleans.

Matlock is executive director of the U of A’s Office for Sustainability and professor of biological and agricultural engineering in the College of Engineering.

“We are very grateful for the work of Dr. Matlock,” said Jared Hagert, United Soybean Board chair and a North Dakota soybean farmer. “With sustainability being so important to the world of agriculture and its end users, his work and dedication to sustainability has been essential to our industry.”

Matlock is an internationally recognized expert in sustainability metrics and assessment and has worked with U.S. farmers to develop and implement a common framework for sustainability based upon collaboration and continuous improvement.

“The USB and its members are the first farmer-led row crop producer group in the U.S. to proclaim sustainability goals for erosion control, energy use reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and land use,” said Matlock. “They have focused their resources and efforts into achieving these reductions within 10 years. They are leading the world in developing and implementing sustainable soybean production strategies.”

Matlock has supported the sustainability efforts of U.S. soybean producers, and helped communicate those efforts to end users around the world. He is also a founding member of Field to Market, the leading sustainable agriculture multi-stakeholder group in the U.S.  He helped the soy industry refine and promote the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol, which demonstrates the sustainability of U.S. soy production in a certified, aggregate approach.

The United Soybean Board administers research and promotion programs to maximize profitability for all U.S. soybean farmers.