Embrapa Environment researcher is recognized for the development of phytopathology

Raquel Ghini, researcher at Embrapa Meio Ambiente (Jaguariúna, SP), will be honored with the 2017 São Paulo Phytopathology Prize.

According to Marisa Faulin, president of the 41st São Paulo Congress of Phytopathology, “this award is given to the professional elected by the members of the São Paulo Phytopathology Association in recognition of their performance in a relevant way for the development of Phytopathology”.

Raquel has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of São Paulo, a master's degree in Agronomy, a PhD in Phytopathology and two post-doctorates, one from the Università degli Studi di Torino (Italy, 1995) and the other from the Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible/ CSIC (Spain, 2015 ). Since 1986, she has been a researcher at Embrapa Meio Ambiente, where she works mainly on the topic: impact of climate change on plant diseases.

Being professionally very active, she has published 6 books and participated in the composition of 50 book chapters, in addition to more than 70 complete articles published in recognized journals and various postgraduate and scientific initiation orientations.

He coordinated and coordinates several projects, one of which led to the development of equipment called solar collector, used to disinfest substrates for seedling production as an alternative to the use of methyl bromide. The equipment, in the public domain, has been used for more than 20 years by countless farmers and nurseries in Brazil and other countries, due to its efficiency and simplicity, in addition to the relevant social, economic and environmental impact of the development of this technology. From 2009 to 2015, she served as a member of the Soils Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC-S) of the United Nations Environment Program (Unep), appointed by the Department of Climate Change of the Secretariat of Climate Change and Environmental Quality of the Ministry of the Environment. She was a founding member and consultant of FRAC-Brasil, from June 25, 1999 until August 2002.

He coordinated the Climapest project – Impact of climate change on phytosanitary problems (http://www.macroprograma1.cnptia.embrapa.br/climapest) and installed the first FACE (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) experiment in Latin America, with the coffee culture (ClimapestFACE).

For Marcelo Morandi, General Chief of Embrapa Environment, the honor is “fair recognition for a career dedicated to research and development, always integrating phytopathology with environmental issues. Embrapa Meio Ambiente is proud to have Raquel on its team of researchers.”

About the congress The 41st São Paulo Phytopathology Congress will be held from February 20 to 22, 2018, at the convention center of the Hotel Quality Sun Valley, in Marília, SP. The event is a promotion of the Associação Paulista de Phytopathologia (APF) and Fatec Shunji Nishimura from Pompéia-SP, with the theme Technological Innovations in Phytopathology. APF, with the support of Research Institutions and Universities of the State of São Paulo, promotes this congress annually and aims to bring together, in addition to phytopathologists from the teaching and research areas, rural extension technicians, undergraduate and postgraduate students , as well as companies from various segments of the production chain, linked to the area of ​​plant diseases. More information at www.cpfito.net.br/