On June 12, 2025, the Faculty of Animal Science at the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM) held a public ceremony to recognize Dr José Valle Riestra Salazar for his outstanding professional career and lifelong contributions to agricultural and nutritional sciences.
Dr. Valle Riestra graduated as an agronomist in 1957. He later earned a Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences in 1965 and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from Cornell University in the United States.
From 1962 to 1975, he worked at UNALM in the field of nutrition and also served as Director of Research and Social Outreach from 1971 to 1975. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Potato Center (CIP). He later served as Associate Director of the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Sciences Division at IDRC’s officein Bogotá, Colombia, from 1975 to 1980. From 1980 to 1982, he was Director of International Cooperation at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia.
From 1982 until his retirement in 2000, he served as Deputy Director General (DDG) of CIP, ultimately being named DDG Emeritus. In his post-retirement years, he has continued to serve on the boards of several organizations, including CIP.
During his time at IDRC, Dr. Valle Riestra played a key role in the development of pioneering projects on tropical pastures in the Amazon, Andean cropping systems (including quinoa), South American camelids, and the use of agricultural by-products for animal feeding in Central America. With the support of numerous institutions over the years, these initiatives have had a lasting impact on livestock production in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as on international food and nutrition security.
Bulletin 77
July 2025