Xavier
Cuesta

Biography

Bachelor in Agronomy, graduated from the Central University of Ecuador, Quito. His professional career began in 1995 as researcher in the Root and Tubers Department of the National Agricultural Research Institute INIAP - Ecuador. He has participated in the development of 11 improved potato varieties of potato. He has also coordinated international projects related to potato plant breeding with the International Potato Center, FONTAGRO, FAO, the Ibero-American Program for Science and Technology (CYTED) ,the Swiss Cooperation for Development (COSUDE) and AECID. Between 2001 and 2003 he completed his Master's Degree in Crop Sciences with specialization in plant breeding at the Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and in 2013 he obtained his PhD from the same University. His thesis was related to the genetics of potato quality traits. His main scientific publications are related to potato plant breeding for resistance to late blight and quality. Currently he works as senior potato breeder in INIAP.

Projects