Alexandre Costa Varella

Alexandre Varella was born in South Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State. Varella took his undergraduate course on Agronomy at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), South Brazil (1994). Afterwards, he did the Master degree (M.Sc.) on Forage Plants with emphasis on silvipastoral systems at UFRGS (1997). Then, he got a Ph.D. degree on Plant Science at Lincoln University, New Zealand, with emphasis on modelling of pasture growth under agroforestry systems (2002). In addition, he developed a post doctoral research at Lincoln University and at Plant and Food Research Ltd. (2010), New Zealand, where he collaborated with the development of an annual ryegrass growth model (CSIRO APSIM) for different soil N conditions. Dr. Varella is a scientist at the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Southern Brazil (Bage/RS) since April 2005. His work is focused on screening and management of shade tolerant pastures for silvipastoral systems and modelling systems for temperate pastures. Between 2006 and 2009, Varella worked as the Leader of R&D group at EMBRAPA Southern Sheep and Animal Husbandry Research Center. Since 2011, Varella has held the position of the General Head of Embrapa Research Unit in South Brazil. As a researcher, he leads research projects on silvipastoral systems with emphasis on pasture growth, pasture physiology and management. (Fonte: CV Lattes)