The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) remembers the life of Dr. Ricardo Celma who recently passed away. Celma served as the Mexico office director from 1987-2007. His work over those 20 years and throughout his life has impacted those in the Mexican ag industry and beyond.
“Having spent several years of my career as the director of the Council’s Mexico office, it was evident that Dr. Celma played a large role in the agriculture industry there,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “We thank him for his dedication to this organization and send our condolences to his family.”
During his time at the Council, the stage was set for Mexico to become the number one export destination for U.S. Grains Council member products. The most important development was the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. In 1987, at the start of Celma’s tenure, the U.S. exported four million metric tons (MMT) of corn and sorghum to Mexico annually. When he left the Council in 2007, exports had grown to 11 MMT annually, an increase of seven MMT per year. Since then, Mexico has become the number one export market for U.S. corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubes (DDGS) and barley and the first or second largest export market for U.S. sorghum.
“Ricardo always had a smile on his face, except when issues became serious,” said former USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight. “He was a staunch advocate for the partnership between Mexican and U.S. agriculture. His cheerfulness and acumen will truly be missed.”
In addition to his service at the Council, Celma was the 1994-95 president of the Mexican Association of Animal Nutrition Specialists (AMENA), the president of the National Grains Quality Standards Committee, that authored the Mexican corn, grain sorghum, barley and other grains quality standards, and was a member of the National Poultry Practitioners Association (ANECA) and the Mexican Association of Sheep and Goat Practitioners (AMTEO).
Please join the Council in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. Ricardo Celma.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.