TIFTON —Gov. Sonny Perdue’s agriculture liaison has been named executive director of the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness based here.

Donnie Smith, who took over at the center this week, served as the governor’s agriculture liaison for six years and will retain some of his duties as special adviser to the governor on agriculture affairs. He will also continue to lead the governors agricultural advisory commission.

“Donnie’s decades of experience in the agriculture industry combined with his service to the state of Georgia will help the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness connect the industry with cutting-edge research,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“The Center of Innovation for Agribusiness is Georgia's central resource for accelerating growth in the agribusiness industry.”

Smith brings extensive industry and government experience to his new position. In addition to serving as the governor’s liaison for agriculture, Smith has managed the governor’s agricultural advisory commission, is a  fifth-generation farmer, is owner of Smith Farms in Coffee and Atkinson counties, and has more than 40 years of experience in agribusiness.

Smith is a past Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year as well as a past Georgia Flue-Cured Tobacco Farmer of the Year. He serves on the Georgia Rural Development Council and on many local, state and national agriculture organizations.

“Donnie Smith is well positioned to continue to increase the momentum of the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness,” said Sterling Wharton, state Centers of Innovation director.

“His depth of industry experience and connections across the state will enable the Center to continue to advance the economic impact of agribusiness through innovation and technology.”

The Agribusiness Center is located at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Tifton Campus. It provides statewide strategic industry expertise and aims to accelerate growth among Georgia’s agribusiness industry.

The Centers of Innovation (COI) program focuses on six areas of strategic industry growth and expansion: agriculture, aerospace, energy, life sciences, logistics and manufacturing, located respectively in Tifton, Eastman, Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and Gainesville. COI's services include access to deep industry expertise and university-level research; product commercialization, and client connections to key state resources.