Weber Antonio Neves do Amaral

Weber A. N. Amaral, a Brazilian national, obtained his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from Harvard University, USA. He also holds a Master of Sciences degree from the University of Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Forest Sciences Dept (USP), Brazil. His research and professional interests are in the areas of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation associated with circular economy and bioeconomy, sustainable use of biodiversity and associated bioprocesses for deployment of genetic resources, sustainable development and public policies. During the past few years, he is engaged with interdisciplinary research on nature based solutions, food loss and food waste, converting residues in co-products and biogas. He is a professor at the University of São Paulo (http://www.esalq.usp.br), ESALQ, Brazil. He was the coordinator of the Brazilian Center for Biofuels - 2005 - 2008 (www.polobio.esalq.usp.br), and formally Senior Scientist at the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, IPGRI (http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/), based in Rome, coordinating the Global Forest Genetic Resources Project. Prior to his current assignment at the University of Sao Paulo, he was an Assistant Professor, Agronomy and Forestry at the State University of Sao Paulo (UNESP: http://www.fac.unesp.br) from 1989 to 1996. His professional career had included working as a researcher in Plant Genetics and Breeding at Florin Florestamento Integrado SA. Weber Amaral has been a consultant on Biodiversity for the Brazilian government, member of the International Advisory Group of the Pilot Programme on Tropical Rain Forests (PPG7), UNCTAD ? Biotrade Programme, FUNBIO, NGOs and private sector. He speaks fluent Portuguese, English, Spanish and Italian.

graduate at Engenharia Florestal from Universidade de São Paulo (1985), master's at Forest Resources and Forest Engineering from Universidade de São Paulo (1993), master's at Biology from Harvard University (1995) and ph.d. at Biologia from Harvard University (1998). Has experience in Forest Resources and Forest Engineering, acting on the following subjects: biodiversity, conservation, biotecnology, genetic and biossegurança.