Faculty

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

K.V has over three decades of experience in several areas of international agriculture and rural development. During his early career he did his MS and PhD research in grain legume improvement at the University of Reading, U.K with field research at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. After his PhD he joined the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University to complete his post doctoral research on potato pest management. He then took up a position in Lima, Peru with the International Potato Center and worked on sweet potato and potato improvement. He is currently at Cornell University with International Programs as the Associate Director for special projects and Adjunct International Professor of Plant Breeding. He has traveled extensively to over 30 plus countries and currently manages several large international projects related to biotechnology; agricultural innovations; executive management programs related to Agri-business and Seed Industry Development.

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

KV is associated with several donor-funded projects in Mexico, Malawi; India and many other countries. He is a Faculty Fellow at the Atkinson Center for Sustainable Future (ACSF) at Cornell University; board member of Cornell-Sathguru Foundation and international representative for the Society for Technology Management.

RESEARCH & TEACHING

As a research manager he provides technical and managerial support to many international projects in close collaboration with relevant Cornell faculty and researchers from national programs in developing countries of Latin America; Asia and Africa. He coordinates two courses in International Agriculture and Rural Development and the Executive Development Program focusing on seed industry development; and agribusiness management. Over 1000 mid career scientists from developing countries and over 600 students have participated in the experiential courses in international agriculture and rural development. He has published over 100 scientific publications and 2 books.