Erik R. Janus named Director, Science Policy & Regulatory Affairs
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, USA (September 10, 2026) — AOCS today announced the creation of a new position, Director, Science Policy & Regulatory Affairs, and the appointment of Erik R. Janus to the role.
The position responds to an increase in public policy and regulatory activity affecting the sectors AOCS members work in, and to a policy environment in which scientific evidence increasingly competes for attention with unsubstantiated claims or uninformed opinions amplified through social media. The AOCS Governing Board approved the new role to ensure that decision makers have access to information grounded in sound science, consistent with the Society’s mission of enriching the lives of people everywhere.
“We are delighted to have Erik on the team. He brings the rare combination of scientific depth and policy instinct that this moment demands,” said Patrick Donnelly, PhD, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of AOCS.
The position is a strategic role that extends the scientific credibility of AOCS into the policy and regulatory arena. In addition to serving AOCS members, it will provide critical support to the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), with which AOCS has held a formal partnership for more than 40 years.
Janus brings more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of science, federal regulation, and industry strategy. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Janus Agricultural Solutions, a regulatory science and policy consultancy, and has previously led human health policy for CropLife America, built and directed a corporate regulatory office in Washington, D.C., and provided expert science and policy advice for the regulatory law firm Steptoe. He has represented industry and scientific interests before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the White House, international regulatory bodies, and several international professional societies.
He begins in the role on September 14, 2026.
About AOCS
AOCS advances the science and technology of oils, fats, proteins, surfactants, and related materials, serving members and the industries they represent worldwide. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, USA, AOCS provides internationally recognized analytical methods, standards, laboratory proficiency programs, peer-reviewed journals, INFORM magazine, and technical conferences. For more information, visit aocs.org.
About NOPA
Organized in 1930, the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), is a national trade association, that represents the United States’ soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed crushing industries. For more information, visit nopa.org.
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Erica Krutsch
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AOCS
erica.krutsch@aocs.org
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