NOVUS President and CEO Dan Meagher has received the 2026 International Visionary Award from Saint Louis University’s Boeing Institute of International Business, recognising his leadership in the global business community and contributions to the international agriculture and animal nutrition sectors.
The award was presented during the Institute’s Annual International Business Awards Dinner on 30 September 2026. Meagher has led NOVUS, a US-based feed additive company, since 2019 and has played an active role in organisations supporting the global feed and agriculture industries.
The recognition highlights the importance of leadership, collaboration and innovation across the agricultural value chain, including the dairy industry, where animal nutrition is a key factor in milk production, herd health and farm efficiency.
Award Recognises International Business Leadership
The International Visionary Award recognises global business leaders for their achievements and contributions to international leadership. Saint Louis University’s Boeing Institute of International Business selects recipients through a nomination and voting process involving its advisory board.
According to Hadi Alhorr, director of the Institute, senior executives are nominated for the International Visionary Award and the Globalist Award. The event committee reviews the candidates before presenting nominations to the general advisory board for voting.
The advisory board includes senior executives from multinational companies operating in the St. Louis region. Previous recipients have included Tony Cheng, president and CEO of RGA; Patrick Sly, executive vice president of Emerson; and David Steward, chairman and founder of World Wide Technology.
For Meagher, the recognition also carries personal significance. A native of St. Louis, he earned his business degree from Saint Louis University in 1983, where he participated in soccer and baseball.
He described the award as unexpected and humbling, highlighting NOVUS’s longstanding relationship with the Institute and its commitment to collaboration and knowledge sharing.
NOVUS’s Global Reach in Animal Nutrition
Since Meagher became president and CEO in 2019, NOVUS has maintained an international presence in the animal nutrition sector. The company has employees in 22 countries and serves customers in more than 85 countries.
Feed additives play an important role in modern livestock production by supporting nutritional efficiency, animal health and production performance. In dairy farming, appropriate nutrition strategies can help producers manage feed costs, support milk yield and maintain herd productivity.
Dairy farmers face continuing challenges, including fluctuating feed prices, pressure to improve production efficiency and growing expectations around environmental sustainability. Advances in animal nutrition can contribute to addressing these issues when products are supported by sound scientific evidence and applied according to the needs of individual herds.
Leadership within the feed additive industry therefore extends beyond commercial growth. It also involves encouraging research, supporting responsible product development and strengthening cooperation among feed manufacturers, farmers, veterinarians, researchers and dairy processors.
NOVUS’s international operations place it within a broad network of livestock and agricultural markets, where nutritional requirements and production systems differ across regions.
Industry Associations Support Science-Based Innovation
Meagher also serves as board chair of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER). He is the former chair of the American Feed Ingredient Association (AFIA) and a member of the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).
These organisations contribute to discussions about feed education, ingredient safety, scientific research and the development of the global feed industry. Their work is relevant to dairy production because the quality, safety and nutritional value of feed ingredients directly influence livestock management.
Industry associations can also provide a platform for collaboration between businesses, scientific institutions and policymakers. Sharing research and developing science-based approaches can help the sector respond to changing regulations, sustainability expectations and emerging animal nutrition challenges.
Meagher has highlighted the value of engaging with leaders and associations across the global agriculture industry. He said collaboration creates opportunities to develop science-based advocacy, encourage innovation and strengthen the food system.
Implications for the Dairy Industry
The dairy sector depends on a connected supply chain that begins with feed production and animal nutrition and extends through milk collection, processing and distribution. Improvements in feed efficiency and herd management can influence farm economics, animal welfare and the environmental footprint of milk production.
As dairy businesses seek to improve productivity while maintaining responsible farming practices, cooperation between nutrition companies, researchers and producers remains important. Feed additive companies can contribute by developing solutions that address specific nutritional needs, provided that their benefits are evaluated through appropriate scientific research.
Meagher’s award does not represent a specific new dairy initiative or product announcement. Instead, it recognises leadership within the wider international business environment in which livestock nutrition and dairy production operate.
His continued involvement in global feed organisations reflects the role that cross-border cooperation can play in supporting agricultural innovation and knowledge exchange.
Leadership and a Resilient Food System
Meagher said his work across the global food chain has given him opportunities to collaborate with people committed to feeding communities and preparing agriculture for future challenges.
For the dairy industry, this broader focus reinforces the importance of coordinated efforts to improve animal nutrition, maintain feed safety and support sustainable production systems.
The 2026 International Visionary Award recognises Meagher’s leadership and engagement with international business and agricultural organisations. As dairy and livestock producers navigate changing economic and environmental conditions, collaboration across the feed and food value chain will remain an important part of the industry’s development.