Dr Rob Bertram
Chief,
Multi-Lateral Programs Division of the Center for Economic Growth and Agricultural Development, USAID, Washington DC, USA
Multi-Lateral Programs Division of the Center for Economic Growth and Agricultural Development, USAID, Washington DC, USA
Rob's valuable contribution to the Board comes from many years of working on multi-lateral development
programmes all over the world.
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Rob Bertram leads the International Research and Biotechnology Team at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
He manages U.S. funding for the CGIAR system, and he is responsible for USAID’s agricultural biotechnology initiative,
which spans science (technology development) and policy (biosafety and intellectual property).
Rob has been with USAID for more than 20 years, and comes from a plant breeding and genetics background, with
degrees from UC Davis, the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland. His doctoral work focussed on
molecular techniques in assessing plant genetic resources and evolution in the genus which includes cassava. His work
includes building stronger research ties between the US research community (especially universities and USDA) and the
international centers, and research partners in Europe and Japan. He has been active for many years in plant genetic
resources policy, having served on the CGIAR Genetic Resources Policy Committee and as a technical advisor during the
negotiation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources. He chaired the FAO Commission on Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture from 2002 to 2004.