Howard-Yana Shapiro is Global Director of Plant Science and External Research, Mars Incorporated.
Howard has guided Mars toward the goal of 100% sustainably sourced cacao production since joining up with the company in the latter 1990′s. His more than 35 years working with sustainable agricultural and agroforestry systems, plant systems, plant genetics, and food production systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Mesoamerica, South America, and in the United States have led to his being a party to functional ecological enhancements the world over. During his years as a geneticist, he released over sixty lines of maize, helianthus, and tagetes into the public domain.In 2008 Howard was named a Fellow of the World Agroforestry Centre, and was lead author on the biotechnology and biodiversity chapter of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, a study initiated by the World Bank and in 2009 received the Award of Distinction from The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis.
Howard’s latest ventures include directing Mars’ global cacao genome sequencing work (in conjunction with IBM and the USDA’s agricultural research service), engaging the African Union to implement an economically sound ecological roadmap for Africa and beginning the genomics and plant breeding on the underutilized food crops of Africa.
Further reading:
- Publications by Howard Yana Shapiro: Chocolate: History, Culture and Heritage; Gardening for the future of the earth
- The Guardian, May 2009: Howard Yana Shapiro, the Man from Mars trying to save the Planet
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