MSU alumnus, retired researcher named president of Brazilian agriculture agency

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi ��APP alumnus who earned MSU graduate degrees in entomology is being named president of the Brazilian equivalent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corp., or EMBRAPA.

Sebastião Barbosa’s experience includes decades of addressing food security challenges and promoting integrated pest-management principals in more than 50 developing countries during his tenure as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s officer for integrated pest management worldwide. Barbosa, who also served as the FAO’s senior plant protection officer for Latin America, was a featured speaker at a 2012 international food security conference held at MSU.

In 2014, MSU honored Barbosa with an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his international famine-relief efforts and his leadership in eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly in South America.

During his career, Barbosa implemented agricultural research-cooperation agreements with the U.S. and numerous other nations. As a leader of EMBRAPA, Barbosa has helped develop sustainable technologies to increase food supply and protect the environment. He served as the chief negotiator for loans and grants from international banks, governments and agencies.

He also worked internationally as an independent consultant in tropical agriculture and as technical director of RuralProsper, a consulting firm in agriculture, environmental protection and rural development.

“Dr. Barbosa has applied the graduate education obtained at MSU to a lifetime of fighting global poverty and food insecurity, and he has often cited the university’s role in helping shape his career,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “He is an outstanding representative of MSU and we congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment.”

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