Sorghum Producers Honor Scott Bean and Brent Bean with Top Research Award

National Sorghum Producers has honored Scott Bean and Brent Bean with the Outstanding Achievement Award in Sorghum Improvement, presented at the Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America. The Lubbock, Texas-based grower organization gives the award for research and contributions that have shaped the sorghum industry.

The recognition marks two careers that, combined, span seven decades of sorghum science. One built the knowledge base around sorghum proteins. The other turned agronomic research into field-level guidance for growers.

What did Scott Bean contribute?

Scott Bean has spent 30 years advancing the industry's understanding of sorghum proteins and how they change during processing. His work bridged laboratory science and practical application, handing breeders and processors tools to evaluate the crop. His research has drawn more than 14,000 citations over his three-decade career — a volume of scholarly recognition that helped expand sorghum's potential for product development.

NSP CEO Tim Lust said: "Much of Scott's research focused on sorghum proteins and how they change during processing. He helped explain how starch influences food quality, digestibility, and fermentation."

That science carries commercial weight, Lust added: "That science supports use in many different areas, especially in the gluten-free foods industry. We all really appreciate Scott's work on that."

For growers, the stakes are straightforward. Gluten-free market demand has opened food-grade channels for sorghum beyond feed and fuel, and protein and starch research underpins whether processors can reliably use the grain in those products.

What did Brent Bean deliver for growers?

After earning degrees from Texas Tech University and the University of Nebraska, Brent Bean spent four decades converting agronomic research into practical solutions for farmers. His guidance proved critical during the 2013 sugarcane aphid outbreak, an event that hit sorghum yields and forced rapid changes in pest management across the Plains. He has shared research with farmers through hundreds of publications and monthly updates.

Lust credited the younger Bean's persistence in communicating crop fundamentals: "When I look back at Dr. Bean's career, he certainly published a number of items talking about growth and development of sorghum. This continues to be a passion of his today: talking about growth stages, heat units and what it really looks like from a crop standpoint."

Lust also praised his decisiveness: "I appreciate his boldness and willingness to say, 'This is the right thing to do for farmers, and we are just going to do it.'"

How long has the award existed?

Since 1961, the Outstanding Achievement Award in Sorghum Improvement has recognized pioneers who helped shape the industry. More than 60 individuals have received the honor, with Scott Bean and Brent Bean now counted among them.

What does this change for growers? Nothing immediately in basis or input costs — but the award spotlights the research pipeline, from protein chemistry to aphid-era agronomy, that keeps sorghum competitive in food, feed and export markets. NSP points growers to sorghumgrowers.com for further details, and both honorees' work remains a reference point as breeders and processors push new sorghum products forward.