01 Mar 2011

DR. JOSE ESPINOSA RETIRES, DR. RAUL JARAMILLO NAMED NEW DIRECTOR OF IPNI NORTHERN LATIN AMERICA PROGRAM

DR. JOSE ESPINOSA RETIRES, DR. RAUL JARAMILLO NAMED NEW DIRECTOR OF IPNI NORTHERN LATIN AMERICA PROGRAM

March 1, 2011 – Norcross, Georgia, USA – Dr. Raúl Jaramillo has been promoted to Director of the Northern Latin America (NLA) Program of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) effective January 1, 2011. Dr. José Espinosa, who had served as Director of the NLA Program, retired effective December 31, 2010. The office for the program is located in Quito, Ecuador.

In recent years, Dr. Espinosa also had responsibility for IPNI activities in Mexico and Central America. Dr. Armando Tasistro has been named Interim Director for Mexico and Central America. He joined the IPNI staff as Communications Specialist in 2009 and is based in the IPNI headquarters office in Norcross, Georgia, USA.

“We expect a smooth transition during this time and plan to maintain positive and productive programs in these important regions,” noted IPNI President Dr. Terry Roberts. “Dr. Espinosa has accomplished significant and lasting advances for the agriculture and people of all the areas he served throughout his career. His positive influence extended to our programs worldwide.”

In 1989, Dr. Espinosa joined the staff of the Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), the predecessor of IPNI. A native of Quito, he completed undergraduate training in agronomy at the Central University of Ecuador before earning his M.Sc. from Michigan State University in 1979 and his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky in 1986. He later held important responsibilities with the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INIAP) in Ecuador and served as a consultant in soil fertility and crop management.

“Dr. Espinosa has set a high standard in his achievements, and he also produced an impressive record of practical and well-used publications, plus a network that delivers science to farmers throughout much of the region. The numerous awards and honors he has received are well deserved and speak highly of his reputation for integrity,” added Dr. Paul E. Fixen, IPNI Senior Vice

President, Americas and Oceania Group, and Director of Research. “Because Dr. Jaramillo has the benefit of more than 2 years of experience as Deputy Director, IPNI programs will continue to progress.” Dr. Jaramillo, also a native of Ecuador, joined the IPNI staff in 2008. He completed undergraduate studies at Central University in 1994, then worked with the International Potato Center (CIP) before earning his M.Sc. degree at the Wageningen Agricultural University in Holland. Dr. Jaramillo completed his Ph.D. program at The Pennsylvania State University. His region now includes Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Dr. Tasistro, a native of Uruguay, received his Ph.D. in soil fertility in 1993 at the University of Georgia and was research scientist in the Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratory there before joining the IPNI staff in 2009. He was with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico from 1984 to 1993.

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For further information, please visit the IPNI website: >www.ipni.net<
Contact Dr. Terry Roberts at IPNI: tel. 1.770.447.0335; e-mail: troberts@ipni.net
Contact Don Armstrong, IPNI Editor, at: 1.770.825.8080; e-mail: darmstrong@ipni.net