André Cunha Rosa
Brazil
Basic Wheat Improvement Course - 1996

My name is André Cunha Rosa, and I am a Brazilian wheat breeder. I have spent most of my career in Brazil, where I joined my family’s wheat breeding business, OR Sementes, at the age of 22. After several years of work, I had the opportunity to attend the CIMMYT Basic Wheat Improvement Course (BWIC), which became a turning point in my career. Shortly after, I pursued a Master’s degree at Oregon State University and a Ph.D. at Kansas State University.  

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Upon completing my studies, I returned to my family business, and within five years, my brother, Ottoni Filho, who also took the BWIC, and I founded Biotrigo, a company that grew to become the leading wheat breeding program in Brazil and South America. In 2023, we sold the company which continues to contribute to wheat improvement at GDM Seeds Inc.

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My Master’s advisor, the late Dr. Warren Kronstad, had mentored over 30 students at the time he invited me to study with him. He required me to complete the BWIC before joining his research team, something I didn’t fully understand at first, but I now realize its immense value. The BWIC was instrumental in shaping my career. It significantly improved my practical breeding skills, and, most importantly, introduced me to a global network of wheat researchers. This experience not only made me a more effective graduate student in the U.S. but also provided me with insights and connections that have illuminated my entire career.