Julio César
Kalazich Barassi

Biography

An agronomist from the Austral University of Chile and a PhD in Plant Genetic Improvement from Cornell University, United States.

He joined the INIA in 1977 and for more than 35 years he has led the Potato Genetic Improvement Program of this institution, which to date has generated 11 Chilean varieties, such as Karu-INIA, Pukará-INIA and Yagana-INIA, which currently occupy more than 50 percent of the national market.

At an international level, he has collaborated with countries such as the United States, Italy, Brazil, China, Holland, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama and the CIP in Peru, through agreements between INIA and various international universities and research centers, being also an advisor to the Foundation McKnight of the United States, which supports rural communities in Africa and Andean South America.

Within INIA he has held numerous positions such as national head of the Papa Program, regional director of INIA Remehue, between 2002 and 2010 and previously regional deputy director of research and development and department coordinator.

Projects