Senior consultant, 44

Weber Amaral is an Associate Professor at ESALQ/USP. He founded and was the CEO of the Brazilian Center for Biofuels between 2005 and 2008. He recently led projects in mapping of second generation ethanol research in Brazil and US, development of Center of Excellence and Technological Parks as well as Sustainability of sugar-cane ethanol and Brazilian biodiesel.

In the last 12 months, he pronounced more than 70 lectures in congresses, workshops, symposiums and other events in the biofuels and biotechnology area, in Brazil and the exterior, between than - In FAO - Italy (Food and Agriculture Organization - United Nation); Cepal; Chile; Biovision Conference, Lyon, France; Alexandria, Egypt; Brussels, Europeun Union; Biotechnology World Conference, Boston; Global Feed and Food Congress, São Paulo; University of Wagenigen, Holland; World Economic Forum, London; INwent, Potsdam, Germany; IPC, Washington, DC; Rutgers University; New Jersey; Harvard University, MA, etc...

He has been a consultant in biodiversity for international NGOs (UNDP, UNEP, FAO, UNCTAD), governments (Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Moçambique) and private sector. Is a member of international counsils such as the Pilot Programme on the Tropical Rain Forests (PPG7), the UNCTAD – Biotrade Programme, the FUNBIO. He developed projects for companies in the cellulose area, paper, metal mechanics industry and bioproducts such as: Aracruz Cellulose, Dedini, Beraca, Agropalma, Grupo Marchiori and started-up two companies on solid products area of wood directed for floor and structures, in partnership with Francides Gomes.

Previously Weber has been a senior scientist at the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) in Rome responsible for the Global Forest Resources Project, he commanded 10 million dollars in projects and researchs. He has also been the Head of Votorantim Celulose S.A. Forest Research Department. During his career he published more than 60 articles in technical magazines of the forest sector as well as 5 books and many chapters in third parties books. Weber is a forest engineer and master from Escola Superior de Agricultura (ESALQ/USP) and MA/PhD from Harvard University. In parallel with his career he manages sugar cane farm for more than 20 years.

weber@vpb.com.br