Betaseed Inc. officials Thursday announced the passing of Duane Melling, 89, Betaseed's first president. He started the formation of the company in 1970 and retired in 1990.
Melling will be remembered for the impact he had on the foundation of Betaseed, starting with only a few employees selling seed out of car trunks in the Red River Valley. He was hired to represent a company that was started to breed, test and sell sugarbeet seed. During his tenure with Betaseed, his accomplishments included pioneering the independent sugarbeet seed industry in the U.S. and Canada and pioneering the adaption of European germplasm to North American growing areas. He also led in the development and promotion of high sugar varieties to the benefit of sugarbeet processors and growers. Late in his career, he authored the book "Betaseed: The First 20 Years" about company history.
Melling was a key contributor to the sugarbeet industry. He received a Meritorious Service Award from the American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists in 1995.
Betaseed Inc., headquartered in Shakopee, Minn., is North America’s premier sugarbeet seed company. From its start in 1970, Betaseed has maintained a longstanding commitment to the beet sugar industry, with research and seed production operations in several states and marketing seed to all sugarbeet markets.