Enhancing Implementation of Regional Climate Action in Agriculture: The PLACA Case

Mr. Lampietti is the Manager for Global Engagement in the Agriculture and Food Global Practice. His responsibilities include strategic planning, donor outreach, and oversight for global knowledge and advisory programs. Previously, he managed the Agriculture and Food program in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Julian used to be based in Buenos Aires, Argentina and he has published books and journal articles on a broad range of topics including poverty, economics, agriculture, food security, logistics, and energy. He has a PhD in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Natural Resources Economics from Duke University.

Ms. Semedo is an economist and politician from Cape Verde. A leading expert in global development issues, she has worked in public service for over thirty years. Over the last decade, FAO has helped shape a new global narrative where agriculture is prominently recognized as a solution in addressing increasingly complex emerging issues – from transforming food systems to dealing with climate change. Leading to deliver, Ms. Semedo promotes an integrated, inclusive approach, resulting in greater cross-sectoral engagement and stronger strategic partnerships, better positioning FAO in its role to promote a transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems.

Ms. Semedo holds a master’s in economics from the Higher Institute of Economics and Management in Lisbon, Portugal.

Mr. Vargas is an agricultural engineer, from the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, with specialization in Sustainable Development, and has extensive experience as an official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, where previously served as Regional Director of the Northern Zone and National Director of Extension of the Ministry.

Sol Ortiz has served as General Director for Policies, Prospective and Climate Change in the Agricultural Sector within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, since 2018. Currently she is coordinating the development of the National Strategy for the Sustainable Use and Conservation of Pollinators in Mexico, she is the Executive Secretary of the Sectorial Committee on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and starting as national focal point to the Global Soil Partnership she has been recently elected the Chair of the Latin America and the Caribbean Soil Partnership (LACS).

Sol graduated as a Biologist from the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has a Doctorate in Ecology from the Institute of Ecology also at UNAM.

Ms. Farinelli is the World Bank’s Focal Point to PLACA. A Brazilian national, since 2008 Ms. Farinelli has been working at the World Bank in Brazil, and currently, as a Senior Agriculture Economist at the Agriculture and Food Global Practice for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Washington DC. She holds a Master of Science in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis, USA, 2008. At the World Bank, Barbara manages development projects with a focus on agricultural climate policies, productive alliances, rural credit policies, technological innovations of climate-smart agriculture.