Title Conference

"Use of maize genetic resources in public genetic improvement programs in Latin America: challenges and opportunities"

Alberto Chassaigne is an Agricultural Engineer from the Francisco de Miranda National Experimental University, Venezuela. Subsequently, he obtained a Master's Degree in Agronomy and a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences, orientation in Genetic Improvement of Plants, at the Central University of Venezuela. In Mexico, he graduated as a Doctor of Science, with an orientation in Seed Production, at the College of Postgraduates. For 18 years he worked at the Danac Foundation (Empresas Polar, Venezuela) as a genetic breeder, developing maize varieties and hybrids. Since 2013, he has been a member of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) as a Seed Systems Specialist for Latin America and, since 2022, he is also the Curator of the maize collection of the Germplasm Bank of this International Center. Today, the combination of both functions allows you to manage more than 28,000 maize accessions for use in research, breeding and training for food and agriculture purposes globally.