Kemin Industries: A sustainable future in focus

Established in 1961, Kemin Industries has grown from a farmhouse in Des Moines, Iowa, to a global leader in molecular science, providing hundreds of ingredients for human and animal health that reach nearly 4 billion people daily. Servant leadership was a founding principle of R.W. and Mary Nelson and has long guided the company’s activities and positive relationships with customers, staff and stakeholders. Dr. Chris Nelson, Kemin’s CEO, shared his parent’s passion for servant leadership; he was also aware of the many global challenges (e.g. population growth, eating habits, finite resources) facing the industry and the planet as a whole. Sustainability emerged as the link that helped Kemin redefine servant leadership for the 21st century and achieve their vision of transforming the lives of the billions of people using their products every day.