Blog IMPORTANT MESSAGE

The Alliance requests respect for the life of our colleague and demands his prompt release.

The Colombian authorities are carrying out the respective investigation.

The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT is an international nonprofit organization that delivers scientific solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives in a climate crisis, and works closely together with farmers to better their livelihoods.

We are grateful for the expressions of concern and solidarity we have received in recent hours.

We will keep you informed of any progress.

For more information: Sean Mattson, Global Communications.

Jesús Antonio Quintana García (Málaga, Spain) is the Managing Director for the Americas of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), an international nonprofit organization that delivers scientific solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives in a climate crisis, and works closely together with farmers to better their livelihoods. He is based at the Americas Hub in Palmira, Colombia.

Jesús Quintana is an expert in Sustainable Rural Development, with 30 years’ experience in the sector, of which a significant part has encompassed activities in international cooperation in diverse countries, working with governments, multilateral organizations, CGIAR institutions, NGOs and other partners.

He holds a degree in Forestry Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and Sociology from the National Distance Education University of Spain. He also has a Master’s degree in Environment and Development from the University of Reading (United Kingdom).

His previous professional experience includes positions as Forestry Expert in Guatemala (1992–1993); Representative in Mozambique (1994–1997); Country Director for Bolivia (1997–1998); Senior Rural Expert in Bolivia (1999–2001); Program Director in Paraguay (2003–2004); Sectoral Expert in Rural Development in the Philippines (2004–2006); Regional Environmental Expert for Latin America (2007–2011); Director for Andean Countries(2012–2015), and Head of the Sub-regional Office for South America (2016–2019).

Jesús Quintana has collaborated with various institutions, including the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as with several consulting firms and international NGOs. He also worked at the Spanish administration in positions related to rural and forestry development between 1988 and 1992.