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WDE Names Robert Chicoine International Person of the Year 2026
Article posted on April 6, 2026, 11:40:52
Semex is pleased to announce that Robert Chicoine has been named the International Person of the Year 2026 by World Dairy Expo. As a founding member and the first General Manager of the Semex Alliance in 1997, Robert Chicoine has left his mark not only on Semex but also on the entire bovine genetics industry. He devoted his career to advancing Canadian dairy cattle, serving as General Manager of CIAQ, pioneering the use of genetic indexes in sire selection, and was instrumental in establishing Boviteq, among many other notable achievements. Semex is very excited about this recent recognition, and we look forward to celebrating with him!
From World Dairy Expo:
Some individuals advance an industry while others help build the very foundation upon which it stands. Robert Chicoine’s life’s work has done exactly that, shaping modern dairy genetics in Canada and influencing breeding decisions in more than 80 countries worldwide.
After earning his Master’s Degree in Animal Breeding, Chicoine started his career in 1966 with the Centre d’Insémination Artificielle du Québec (CIAQ). He was a trailblazer in using data-driven decision-making for sire selection. At a time when tradition was dominant, he promoted the use of genetic indexes, an approach that would transform breeding programs and become standard worldwide. Through initiatives like the Young Sire Testing Program, he helped develop some of the most influential Holstein sires in history.
Chicoine’s vision extended beyond genetics. As a driving force behind the creation of the Semex Alliance, he established a collaborative model that continues to deliver Canadian genetics worldwide. As a builder, innovator, and mentor, his legacy lives on through the systems, organizations, and people he helped shape.
Robert will be honored at the Recognition Awards Banquet during the World Dairy Expo on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Banquet tickets will be available at www.worlddairyexpo.com starting July 1.
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