Ph.D in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics. Executive Director of the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), a public-private alliance among 30 organizations from 17 Latin America and The Caribbean (LAC) countries and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, aimed at researching and delivering improved germplasm and knowledge to the rice sector in the region. Since 1995 FLAR and its members have released 100 varieties in 15 LAC countries, with more than 40% of rice production in LAC coming from FLAR germplasm.