ABOUT ME

Personal Background

Born and raised in Uruguay, I am of Spanish and French descent. In the mid-1850s, my great-grandparents emigrated to Uruguay and established a farming tradition that has been carried on for five generations. This way of life has kept us deeply connected to the land while preserving our culture, knowledge, and values.

With grandparents who were farmers and parents who are veterinarians, I was introduced to farm life at an early age. Uruguay’s renowned sustainable beef production systems further inspired my interest in sustainable agriculture. Over time, this curiosity grew into a passion for Agronomy, which has since become my career.

Through my studies and professional experiences, I have had the privilege of traveling to many corners of the world and living in three countries: Uruguay, New Zealand, and Italy. These experiences have broadened my perspective on agriculture and further deepened my commitment to the field.

Educational Background

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomic Engineering, which I pursued at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of the Republic, Uruguay. This Degree helped me develop my livestock and cropping systems management skills.

Soon after finishing my Bachelor’s, my interest in sustainable production concepts developed. This led me to pursuing a Master’s Degree in Animal Science, also at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of the Republic, Uruguay. I focused my research on practices to reduce milk carbon footprint on grazing dairy farms in the country.

Eventually, I went on to obtain a PhD in Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Lincoln University, New Zealand, where I conducted research on understanding and mitigating the water quality impact from soils receiving dairy factory wastewater in the country.

Professional Background

Throughout my career, I have focused my work on adaptation and mitigation to climate change, soil and water quality, and environmental indicator projects. These have given me the opportunity to participate in scientific interdisciplinary and inter-institutional groups, as well as develop relations with governments, researchers, technicians, and farmers alike.

I have extended my expertise on an international scale by working in Uruguay, New Zealand and Italy, as well as collaborating on global projects in Costa Rica and Kenya. My career has led me to work with United Nations agencies, government bodies, academia, and the private sector. These experiences have deepened my awareness of the diverse challenges and opportunities that different regions are facing in terms of production, economy, society, and the environment.