Guelph’s Paul Larmer, the former CEO of Semex, is among four Canadians that will be inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame this November. Larmer, hailing from Guelph, Ontario, was also recognized as the International Person of the Year at the World Dairy Expo earlier in March this year. With a career in dairy cattle genetics spanning four decades, Larmer started in 1984 and held key roles at United Breeders, Semex Alliance, and Alta Genetics.

Paul became CEO of Semex in 2007, leading the company to 17 years of record-breaking sales. Under his leadership, Semex introduced six ‘millionaire sires’ and advanced dairy technology and genetics, including projects in China, Hungary, and Brazil, and a Methane Efficiency Index. Larmer retired as CEO in December 2023 but continues as an Executive Advisor.

Paul Larmer has dedicated his professional life to improving cattle genetics and making Canada a global leader. Starting as a dairy cattle sire analyst and later leading the Semex Alliance as CEO for 17 years, Paul’s leadership and vision have significantly impacted Canadian farmer-owned companies in the global cattle breeding industry. A mentor to many, Paul transformed Semex from a Canadian exporter to an international provider of cattle genetics solutions.

Semex released a statement recently that mentioned; “Paul’s contribution to Canadian agriculture is unparalleled. He has dedicated his life to Canadian producers, starting at the grassroots level and rising to CEO of Semex. Paul’s goal has always been to showcase our genetics to the world, as he says, ‘punching above our weight.’ Undoubtedly, his leadership solidified Canadian genetics and Semex’s position as a global leader.”

Larmer will be formally inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 2, at an event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.