Colombia

Maria del Pilar
Márquez - Cardona

Biography

Professor and Researcher at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana – Biologist, MSc in Ecological Agriculture. Member of the Research Group on Plant Biology and Production Systems. Researcher with 20 years of experience in genetic resources of agricultural interest. Between 1999 and 2004 she was linked to the Biodiversity and Biotechnology research group of Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. During the year 2005 she was part of the group of the Technical Direction of Seeds of the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) and since 2006 she has been linked as a plant professor of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. She has developed research projects related to the incorporation of biotechnological tools in productive processes with small farmers, plant in vitro propagation and genetic characterization of species of agricultural interest such as:

Historical memory, genetic characterization and food use of marginalized Andean tubers in the provinces of Centro and Márquez (Boyacá)
Capacity Development for the Appropriation and Use of Knowledge in the Production of Initial Potato Seed for the Development and Improvement of the Potato Production Systems of Small Producers of the Departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá
Molecular characterization of Gmelina arborea clones
Participatory sustainable management strategies in productive systems with small farmers in the province of Ubaté, department of Cundinamarca

She has participated in processes of social appropriation of Science and Technology, working with small farmers producing potato and Andean tubers:

Adoption and incorporation of biotechnological tools by small potato producers within their production systems: An experience of social appropriation of technical and scientific knowledge

Contributions of science in the approach of participatory sustainable management strategies in productive systems with small farmers in the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá