Jorge Dasilva

Background

About Jorge Dasilva

Plant Breeder, with 30 years of experience in sugarcane genetic breeding research, a Ph.D. degree in Plant Genetic Breeding from Cornell University, in Ithaca (NY), USA and an M.S. degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding from USP – Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Piracicaba (ESALQ) and a B.S. in Agronomy from UFRuRJ -Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1987 Jorge joined CTC (Centro de Tecnologia Copersucar) in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, as sugarcane genetic breeder. In 1990 CTC sent him to Cornell University, in Ithaca (NY), USA for a Ph.D. degree in Plant Genetic Breeding, which he obtained in 1993, when he returned to CTC. He remained in CTC until 2001, when he was offered the position of Associate Professor and leader of the sugarcane program at the Texas A&M University, Weslaco Center. Jorge stayed at Texas A&M University until 2009, when he accepted the executive position of Sugarcane Breeding Director at Syngenta Crop Protection, in Brazil, to seek most advanced technologies and increase accuracy and speed breeding, including integrated product portfolio in breeding targets, seeking novel approaches to improve breeding. There, Jorge identified and promoted partnership with universities and private sector, involving sugarcane germplasm, genetic breeding, biotechnology and genomics. He also stimulated inter regional interactions with state universities and research agencies to develop Syngenta’s Global Sugarcane Research Program. In 2010 the Texas A&M System brought Jorge back to Texas as a Professor, Governor’s Office Superiority Hiring, Bioenergy Program, when he was appointed Associate Center Director until 2011. Given his experience at the corporate environment, in 2011 Jorge left the Associate Center Director position to dedicate his time to the leadership of the Bioenergy Research Program and the interaction with the private sector, involving lead companies such as Chevron Technology Ventures, BP Biofuels, Ceres.