The large gold medal, one of the Royal Academy of Forestry and Agriculture's (KSLA) most distinguished awards, is awarded to ThermoSeed inventor Kenneth Alness.
Published January 26, 2023.
According to the academy, Alness receives the medal because he has contributed to reducing the negative environmental impact from forestry and agriculture through groundbreaking innovations.
The KSLA writes:
— Kenneth Alness receives the medal for an outstanding life achievement. Alness’s method with steam treatment of seed has gained a global spread and dominates the seed market in Scandinavia. Cereals, rice and flax are the main crops treated. The use of chemicals has been drastically reduced and the potential for further spread of the method is great.
— I am extremely proud and very honored to receive this fine award, says Kenneth Alness, who has devoted his entire life to innovations that reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture and forestry. And he has no plans to retire. On the contrary.
— There are many exciting applications for similar technology and I am at full speed making it available to small-scale users such as producers of sprouts, shoots and herbs, he says.
The Royal Academy of Forestry and Agriculture awards the large gold medal no more than every five years, and the exclusive group of recipients includes the creator of the modern University of Agriculture, Rector Lennart Hjelm, as well as Sweden’s former Minister of Rural Affairs and Karl Erik Olsson
The KSLA writes:
“The Academy’s large gold medal (only given every fifth year) for outstanding life achievement is awarded to Kenneth Alness. The guiding star in Kenneth Alness’s life’s work is to contribute to good environmental adaptation within the land-based industries. With curiosity, creativity, and perseverance, he has, through a series of ground-breaking innovations, contributed to reducing the negative environmental impact from forestry and agriculture. In his work, he has implemented research results and innovations in practical applications for the benefit of the environment in crop cultivation and forestry as well as industry. As part of a research project at SLU, Alness developed the method of treating seeds with steam to replace the previous treatment with chemicals. Today, the method has a global spread and dominates the seed market in Scandinavia. Cereals, rice and flax are the main crops treated. The use of chemicals has been drastically reduced and the potential for further spread of the method is great. Kenneth Alness is also a valued and skilled business leader and an inspirer of young entrepreneurs.”
For more information visit the KSLA web page.
or contact:
Kenneth Alness, CEO of Acanova, phone: +46–70–638 73 78
Lars Höök, press contact, phone: +46–70–521 52 07
Published January 26, 2023.