Brief CV
2018 till 2026 - Started a small private breeding program in the USA (Force Genetics LLC) in the city of Dekalb, mostly dedicated to better utilization of Ex-PVP inbreds that became available. Some of these inbreds and hybrids are now pre-commercials in India and are in advanced tests in China. I have sold my participation in this company in December 2024. As consultant, I have been working for a seed company in Asia/South East Asia since 2020; a company in Brazil since 2018; a large Chinese company from 2022 to 2024; and, as part of a Force Genetics agreement, I have been consulting for a Mexican seed company (non-multinational).
2017- DOW Germplasm Split in Brazil - Hired by ING Bank N.V. London Branch and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture to split the Dow Ag Sciences Corn Germplasm, Breeding Pipeline and Commercial and pre-commercial products. Part of the complete pipeline stayed with Pioneer and the other part was sold to LongPing for U$1.1 billion dollars.
June 2012 to 2018 - AATF (Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation), WEMA and Monsanto International Corn Breeding Consultant. Reviewed the NARS (National Agricultural Research System) corn breeding Programs of South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda. Retired from Monsanto at the end of 2014 but worked as Monsanto Corn Breeding Consultant till the end of the WEMA Project (2018).
June 2010-May 2012 - WEMA Corn Breeding Lead- managing of the WEMA/Monsanto Corn Breeding and Testing in South Africa and the Sub-Sahara Africa (South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique). WEMA meant Water Efficient Maize for Africa and it was a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard Buffet Foundation. The project was a 3 “P” (Public and Private Partnership) putting together CIMMYT (International Center for Maize and Wheat Breeding); the NARS (National Agricultural Research Systems in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique). The project was coordinated by AATF (African Agriculture Technology Foundation) and extended to Ethiopia in 207. WEMA was initially a 5-year project. Another 5 years were added after the good results of the first period. The best results from these two years was achieved by the organization of the hybrid pipeline using Monsanto Global germplasm; completely changed the trials network improving the quality of the trials to Monsanto global standards; improved substantially the relationship between Monsanto and CIMMYT allowing the project to go for a second phase of 5 years; provided training to the NARS and African breeders to allow them a better performance in the WEMA project; trained a substitute to take over the WEMA Breeding leadership; started an aggressive change in the mechanization of trials and data collection that ultimately allow WEMA/Monsanto in 2013 to plant and harvest all trials using mechanization instead of planting/harvesting by hand.
April 2007-May 2010 - Became the Central/RM 105 Commercial Corn Breeding Lead managing the commercial breeding and testing activities in seven Monsanto research stations in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. A new station in Iowa (Independence) was started including hiring all staff during this period.
January 2003- March 2007 - Moved to the North America Corn Breeding and became Commercial Corn Breeder and Site manager for the Waterman Research site at Dekalb-IL and was the Co-Lead of the Monsanto Germplasm Team. Developed several temperate corn inbreds during this period. Won the “2007 Best Central USA Inbred Award” for developing one outstanding inbred for Monsanto North America. Got many developed hybrids patented for Monsanto USA. Led the tropical and subtropical germplasm introgression efforts for Monsanto USA and the temperate introgression for the Monsanto Tropical and Subtropical Breeding programs around the world.
October 1999- December 2002 - Became the Asian Corn Breeding Director managing temperate and tropical corn breeding for Asia. Started Monsanto breeding activities in China for Monsanto. Built the first corn breeding station in China and hired the first corn breeders. The Monsanto research building in General Santos-Philippines was symbolically dedicated to me and has my name since 2004.
November 1998- September 1999 - After Monsanto acquisition of Cargill International, I became Tropical Corn Breeding Director managing Brazil and South/Southeast Asia. Main activities were the merge of the new Monsanto acquired corn breeding programs in Brazil (Agroceres, Cargill and Dekalb); and the merges in Asia of Cargill Thailand, Philippines and India; Dekalb-Charoen Pokphand Thailand JV; Dekalb-Ayalla-Philippines JV; and Asgrow-Thailand).
January 1991-to October 1998 - Became the Worldwide Tropical and Subtropical Corn Breeding Director for Cargill International Seeds managing all corn research activities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Started the breeding activities in India. Many breakthroughs in breeding in Brazil; Argentina; South Africa; Zimbabwe; Thailand; Philippines and India during this time.
October 1982- December 1990 - Moved to Cargill Brazil to lead the Center of Brazil Corn Breeding Region and work as Corn Breeding Liaison for the Southeast Asia Breeding Programs. Started the hybrid corn breeding program in Thailand, Philippines and India for Cargill International Seeds; many hybrids were developed during this time. Got the “Cargill Achievers’ Award” for developing Southern Rust Resistant hybrids in Brazil. As breeder, I developed many key Brazilian inbreds and hybrids for Cargill.
November 1977- September 1982- Dekalb do Brazil Research Manager. Started the Corn Breeding program for Dekalb in Brazil. Two research stations opened (Barretos and Passo Fundo). Released XL560; XL 670; XL604 and others. Dekalb XL560 was in the market for 17 years.
September 1974 to October 1977 - Worked at EMBRAPA-Sete Lagoas-MG; I was a member of the Implementation Team that started the Corn and Sorghum Research Center and was the first National Sorghum Research Lead. With Dr Robert Schaffert (USAID), we developed four sorghum hybrids (BR300, BR301 and BR501 and BR601). Hybrid BR300 stayed in the market for 20 years. BR601 and BR501 were Sweet Sorghum hybrids developed to be used for ethanol production.
May 1973- to September 1974 - Agronomic Institute as Sorghum Breeder. Had a 40 day trip to visit USA sorghum breeding projects in Puerto Rico; Universities of Georgia, Texas A&M; Nebraska, Purdue and Iowa State; seed companies Dekalb, Pioneer and Asgrow. A large collection of sorghum inbreds was introduced to the IAC sorghum breeding project as result of this trip.
Aug 1972-March 1973 - Brief stint (8 months) with Agroceres Seeds as Corn Breeder.
MSc Degree (1972-1976) - at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Breeding- ESALQ- University of Sao Paulo. Dr Ernesto Paterniani was the advisor. It was done while working at Agroceres and IAC- Campinas Agronomic Institute.
BS School - Agronomy School at University of Sao Paulo (Piracicaba-ESALQ)- 1968- 1972. Graduated in 14th in a 200 student class.