The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council recently welcomed three staff members, including Arup Mitra as the organization’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia based in New Delhi, India, and Ethanol Economics and Policy Manager Tom Poole and Industry Relations Intern Jadyn Taylor to its Washington, D.C. headquarters.
Mitra joined the Council from Godavari Biorefineries, one of India’s largest producers of ethanol, and previously worked as a director at the U.S. Commercial Service in East India. Mitra holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Jadavpur University and a master’s degree in business administration and marketing from the Indian Institute of Management.
He will help lead the Council’s endeavors in South Asia along with USGBC Regional Director for South Asia Reece Cannady to continue strengthening U.S. agricultural producers’ market share in area.
“Arup brings exceptional experience to his role and will be an excellent fit for the organization as he bolsters the Council’s operations in the region,” Cannady said.
“He has spent nearly three decades in both India and the U.S. working to fortify trade relationships that bring business to U.S. producers in support of the world’s most populous nation and we’re eager for him to deploy his skills on behalf of U.S. growers.”
Poole will support the Council’s ethanol team through data analysis and policy recommendations while providing industry representation at international forums in energy and transportation.
He most recently served as an international marketing specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA’s FAS) and holds a bachelor’s degree in crop sciences and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois.
“U.S. ethanol exports continue to set records year over year, and with so much room still to grow across its many applications, we are excited to have Tom on board to maintain and expand the Council’s momentum in marketing U.S. ethanol around the world,” said Alicia Koch, USGBC director for global ethanol export development.
Taylor will spend the summer assisting the Council’s Industry Relations department in preparation for the organization’s 66th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting, held July 29-31 in Milwaukee, WI, and for Export Exchange 2026, scheduled to be held in Seattle, WA, Oct. 15-17.
Taylor is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska majoring in hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.
“Each year, the Council partners with Nebraska Corn to welcome a summer intern and we are delighted to have Jadyn with us to backstop the department’s work while helping her skills develop to foster the next generation of U.S. agricultural sector leaders,” said Ellen S. Zimmerman, USGBC director of industry relations.
Please welcome Arup, Jadyn and Tom to the Council!