Dr. Francisco Fuentes

Dr. Francisco Fuentes is Professor and Researcher at Agronomy and Forestry, Engineering and Medicine Faculties of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Dr. Fuentes has a B.S. in Agronomy (Crop Science) from University of Concepcion (Chile) and a Ph.D. in Agroforestry and Veterinary Sciences (Molecular Genetics) from University of Chile. He was postdoctoral research fellow at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (USA). His research is primarily focused on development a quinoa breeding program under the extreme conditions of the Atacama Desert as well as in Mediterranean areas of central-southern Chile. The main objective of this breeding program is to develop improved lines of quinoa with high grain yield and nutritional content through selection and evaluation of native germplasm using conventional tools and DNA markers. He is an International Quinoa Expert for the Administration of Foreign Expert in China and a quinoa consultant for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dr. Fuentes has published several research papers, book chapters and books on quinoa and bioprospection of natural products. He is Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources.