The award of "Distinguished Economic Botanist (DEB)" is bestowed annually by the Society upon an individual on the basis of outstanding accomplishments pertinent to the goals of the Society. A nominee does not need to be a member of the Society. The Chairperson of the Nominations and Awards Committee shall be responsible for the citation which shall be published in Economic Botany. The only responsibility of the awardee shall be to present an address at the annual meeting the year of his/her selection. He/she shall become an honorary member of the Society for life.

Recipients of the Distinguished Economic Botanist award are:

Dr. Will McClatchey 2013	Dr. Djaja Djendoel Soejarto 2012	Dr. Nancy Turner 2011	Drs. Edelmira Linares and Robert Bye 2010	Nina Etkin 2009 *
2000s
Michael Balick 2009	Brent and Elois Ann Berlin 2008	W. Hardy Eshbaugh 2007	Walter Lewis & Memory Elvin-Lewis 2006	Harold C. Conklin 2005 [ Profile ]
Gordon Hillman 2004	Daniel Zohary 2003 Bibliography	Sir Ghillean Prance 2002 Bibliography	Isabella Abbott 2001 * Bibliography	James Duke 2000 Bibliography
1990s
S. K. Jain 1999	Hugh. H. Iltis 1998	Carlos Ochoa 1997 *	Jack G. Hawkes 1996 *	Varro E. Tyler 1995 *
Walton C. Galinat 1994 *	Mildred Mathias 1993 *	Douglas Yen 1992	N. W. Simmonds 1991 *	Herbert G. Baker 1990 *
1980s
Jack L. Beal 1989 *	Oswald Tippo 1988 *	Charles Rick 1987 *	E. Hernández X. 1986 *	Jack R. Harlan 1985 *
Charles B. Heiser 1984 *	N. R. Farnsworth 1983 *	William L. Brown 1982 *	William H. Tallent 1981 *	T. Whitaker 1980 *
1970s
	R. E. Schultes 1979 *		Julia F. Morton 1978 *
* deceased