Diego is an Ecuadorian agronomist who earned his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the Technical University of Machala (UTMACH), Ecuador. He holds a master’s degree and a PhD in Soil Sciences from the University of Concepción (UDEC), Chile, and São Paulo State University – UNESP, Brazil, respectively.

Diego’s academic background and professional experience focus on the study of tropical soils and their relationship to crop mineral nutrition, integrating physical, chemical, and biological soil properties to design efficient and sustainable soil fertility management strategies. His work emphasizes integrated diagnosis of crop nutritional status and agronomic decision-making based on the soil–plant–climate relationship.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in university teaching, applied research, and technical advisory work in tropical agricultural systems across Latin America, collaborating with farmers, agribusiness companies, and academic institutions. He is the author of more than 20 scientific publications, including articles in high-impact journals and book chapters, and has presented conference papers in various countries in Central and South America.

Diego previously served as a faculty member and then as Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UTMACH in Ecuador, where he led academic management processes and institutional strengthening initiatives.