Valentin D. Picasso

Valentin D. Picasso

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA Adjunct Professor, UDELAR, Montevideo, Uruguay

Phone: (608) 422-9611, email: [email protected], 1575 Linden Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

Formal Education

2010 Postdoctoral researcher, Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands, with Dr.

Holger Meinke in Crop Systems Analyses Group on resilience to climate change. 2008 Ph.D., Sustainable Agriculture. Iowa State University, USA. Dissertation: Diversity, productivity,

and stability in perennial polycultures used for grain, biomass, and forage. Advisors: Dr. Charles Brummer (Agronomy) and Dr. Matt Liebman (Agronomy). GPA: 3.95/4.

2006 Graduate Diploma, Preparing Future Faculty Scholar (4 semester’s graduate training in teaching and academic development), Iowa State University.

2001 Ingeniero Agrónomo (B.S., Agriculture). Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Thesis: Trayectorias Tecnológicas en la Ganadería Uruguaya: un Enfoque Evolucionista (Technological pathways in Livestock Industry in Uruguay: An Evolutionary Approach). Advisor: Dr. Carlos Paolino. GPA: 11.3/12 (First in ranking from cohort).

Positions

2015-present. Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences,

University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA. Faculty affiliate of the Agroecology MSc Program and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

2018-present. Associate Professor, Animal Production and Pastures Department, College of Agriculture, Universidad de la República, Uruguay (8 hours per month).

2012-15 Director, Environmental Systems Department, College of Agriculture, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.

2012 Visiting Scientist, Dr. E. Kebreab´s Sustainable Agriculture Modeling Lab, Animal Science Department, University of California - Davis, USA, 3 months.

2009-15 Coordinator, Climate Change Interdisciplinary Center, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. 2008-18 Assistant Professor, Animal Production and Pastures Department, College of Agriculture,

Universidad de la República, Uruguay. 2008-12 Director, Graduate & Continuing Education, College of Agriculture, Universidad de la

República, Uruguay. 2004-08 Research Assistant, Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, USA. 1997-98 Research Assistant, Plant Biochemistry and Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Universidad

de la República, Uruguay.

mailto:[email protected]

Valentin D. Picasso - CV

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Honors and Awards 2020 Crop Science Outstanding Paper Award for the Forage and Grazinglands division (C6), third place,

honoring members who have made important contributions to the study of crop science. 2019 Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow Award for pre-tenure faculty whose research benefits agricultural

activities within the United States. CALS, UW-Madison, USA. 2017 Madison Teaching and Learning Excellence Fellowship a two-semester program for early career

faculty to improve teaching and a grant to put into practice. UW-Madison, USA. 2009-present. Member, Uruguayan National Academy of Sciences (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores,

Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación) a scientist categorization and promotion system selected by senior scientists.

2012 Global Research Alliance Borlaug Fellowship for research exchange to UC Davis, USA. 2010 C.T. de Wit Production Ecology & Resource Conservation Visiting Scientist Grant for postdoctoral

researcher in Wageningen University, The Netherlands. 2007 Outstanding Student Service Award, Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State

University, USA. 2007 Teaching Excellence Award, Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, USA. 2006 Best graduate student poster, Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, USA. 2006 Best C-3 CSSA graduate student poster, ASA-CSSA-SSSA meeting, Indianapolis, IN, USA. 2005 Excellence in Graduate Research Award, Iowa State University, USA. 2004 International Travel award to IV International Crop Science Congress, Brisbane, Australia. 2003 Natural Systems Agriculture Graduate Fellowship, The Land Institute, Kansas, USA. 2002 Premium Academic Excellence Award for tuition at Iowa State University, USA. 2002 Fulbright Fellowship for graduate studies in the USA, IIE & Fulbright Commission. 2001 Junior Scientist Award by Scientific Research Commission (CSIC) Universidad de la República,

Uruguay.

Scientific Memberships 2005-present. Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), an international scientific society with the

mission of plant science for a better world (www.crops.org); it publishes Crop Science among other Journals.

2015-present. American Society of Agronomy (ASA), an international scientific society aimed at developing, disseminating, and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world (www.agronomy.org); it publishes Agronomy Journal, Crop Forage and Turfgrass Management, and others.

2015-present. Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit organization with the mission to use rigorous, independent science to solve our planet's most pressing problems and create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

2012-present. Sociedad Científica Latinoamericana de Agroecología (www.socla.co), a scientific society to promote agroecology for sustainable development in Latin America.

2010-present. Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal (ALPA), a scientific society on animal production and forages in Latin America, publishes Archives of ALPA Journal.


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Research statement Developing agroecosystems that provide healthy food while reducing environmental impacts in the face of climate change is a top global priority for agricultural research. I am recognized as an international leader in research on the sustainability and resilience of perennial cropping systems. At UW-Madison I have secured $2.1 million in competitive grant funding (67% from federal sources) and published 26 papers in highly respected journals. Cropping systems that include perennial forages (such as alfalfa) and grain crops (such as Kernza) can contribute to food for humans and feed for livestock while reducing environmental impacts and increasing resilience to climate change relative to annual cropping systems. However, fundamental and applied questions limit the widespread adoption of these systems. Therefore, my research program aims to answer the following key questions:

1. What are the key agronomic constraints limiting widespread adoption of perennial grain and forage cropping systems and how can they be overcome? Intermediate wheatgrass is a deep-rooted grass recently improved for grain production, becoming the first perennial grain crop in the world, commercialized as Kernza®. The environmental benefits of transitioning a landscape from annual to perennial grains are significant, but risks of adopting this new crop for farmers are high. Therefore, my initial research used rigorous qualitative methods to survey Kernza growers in the USA to identify the critical knowledge gaps in their production systems. Our results identified forage use, weed management, and agronomic practices as three critical research needs (Lanker et al., 2019). I therefore developed one of the world’s most comprehensive Kernza agronomic field research programs, using eight research stations and five farms as land base, with initial funding from The Land Institute and UW-Madison. I hypothesized that in Kernza dual-use systems, which produce both forage and grain, the timing of forage harvest would affect the nutritional value and productivity of the forage. Furthermore, intercropping legumes with Kernza would increase nitrogen (N) input via biological fixation and increase forage yield and nutritional value of the mixture. Both hypotheses were confirmed by research (Favre et al., 2019) funded by a USDA-SARE grant (PI). A follow up question is investigating how to incorporate Kernza forage into cattle diets to increase profitability further; feeding trials are ongoing to research this.

Dual-use grain and forage systems may require mitigating possible negative trade-offs between sink-source resource allocation, i.e., does harvesting forage reduce grain yield? We found that harvesting forage did not affect grain yield, root biomass, or belowground non-structural storage carbohydrates (Sakiroglu et al., 2020), providing a physiological basis for the better performance of dual-use systems. Based on the dense roots and frequent harvests, we tested the hypothesis that Kernza dual-use systems would suppress annual weeds without the need of herbicides. Our results suggest that Kernza can effectively suppress weeds in organic systems (Zimbric et al., 2020).

Understanding vernalization and photoperiod requirements is critical for the global expansion of Kernza production. We found diversity within intermediate wheatgrass germplasm for vernalization requirements that may allow for selection for a range of temperate climates (Ivancic et al., 2021). I am collaborating with researchers in France to calibrate intermediate wheatgrass phenology models accounting for vernalization (Duchene et al., 2021). I also lead collaborations with researchers in Asia, Europe, and South America to empirically test Kernza production in these regions.

My long-term vision is to develop diverse perennial grain and forage polycultures, that is, intercropping Kernza with legume species, to biologically fix N, provide pollinator habitat, and increased forage nutritive value. Ongoing research is determining which legume species, cultivars, and planting dates, optimize grain and forage production in Kernza-legume intercrops, funded by USDA-


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Hatch (PI), USDA-SARE (Co-PI), and NAFA (Co-PI) grants. We are also testing a prototype harvester for intercropping (USDA-NIFA, Co-PI) and measuring carbon sequestration of Kernza-legume systems, funded by Patagonia Provisions (Co-PI). Finally, we are evaluating other potential perennial grains such as Silphium (Van Tassel et al., 2017). My research was instrumental in obtaining a $10 million multi-state USDA NIFA SAS grant (2020-25; PI is at the Univ. of MN.) to expand Kernza breeding, agronomy, marketing, education, and extension. I am Co-PI and I lead the Agronomy goal of studying the impacts of environment and management on the optimal choice of Kernza germplasm for dual-use systems.

2. What are the biological foundations of cropping system resilience to climate change? Resilience is the capacity of a system to withstand and recover from a climate crisis. Stability is the minimal variability of crop yield across years. Understanding the biological basis of resilience and stability is key for climate change adaptation. Simplified landscapes may face greater challenges than diversified ones, because crop diversity drives ecosystem functions including stability and resilience (Picasso, 2018; Picasso et al., 2011). I have led the development of novel methods to quantitatively measure resilience and stability (Picasso et al., 2019), and to identify the biological mechanisms driving resilience and stability from cultivars to agroecosystems, funded by a USDA-Hatch grant (PI).

At the crop level, analyzing longitudinal data of alfalfa cultivar yields in North America, we found that resilience was associated with fall dormancy but stability with disease resistance, establishing that there are different biological mechanisms driving stability and resilience (Picasso et al., 2019). As a follow up, I am leading the evaluation of alfalfa cultivars in field experiments to identify plant traits responsible for increased drought and cold resilience as part of a USDA-NIFA grant (PI). Furthermore, we identified genomic regions responsible for yield resilience and stability in cereals, providing a foundation to breed for adaptation to climate change.

At the agroecosystem level, resilience of forage production to drought in grazing beef systems increased with improved grazing management (Modernel et al., 2019). Furthermore, using longitudinal data from the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial we found that systems with greater perenniality were more stable and crop diversity increased drought resilience (Sanford et al., 2021). My long-term vision is to integrate the study of resilience to further test the hypothesis that diversity drives resilience at multiple biological levels.

3. Can perennial forages mitigate the environmental impact of livestock production systems? Livestock systems are key to global protein supply, but they generate several environmental impacts. Improving perennial forage production and effective grazing management can reduce the need for external inputs, reduce fossil energy use, soil erosion, nutrient leaching, water pollution, and move livestock systems into ecological intensification trajectories. Using life cycle assessment methods to model environmental impacts, I have led the research that has identified ecological intensification trajectories to improve sustainability of beef (Picasso et al., 2017; Modernel et al., 2018), dairy (Llanos et al., 2018; Darre et al., 2018; 2020), and silvopastoral systems (Bussoni et al., 2017).

Local information is crucial, so I have fostered international collaborations and transdisciplinary teams (Cruz et al., 2017; Pischke et al., 2017). An intentional policy impact of these studies has been informing government agencies (Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture, Meat Institute, Dairy Institute), industry (e.g., Danish Company Ingleby) and farmers of our results. My future vision involves expanding the assessment of ecological intensification trajectories to other regions of the world, including silvopastoral systems in Latin America (Pizarro et al., in review). In summary, my research contributes to improving sustainability and resilience to climate change of food production by addressing critical questions to expand perennial forages and grain crops and diversify both cropping and livestock systems, for Wisconsin and for the world.


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List of publications Mentees, and co-mentees are highlighted in bold. An asterisk (*) indicates the five publications considered most noteworthy. A number sign (#) indicates corresponding author. Papers published in, or accepted by, refereed journals 1. Sanford, G.R.#, R. Jackson, E. Booth, J.L. Hedtcke, and V. Picasso. 2021. Perenniality and diversity

drive output stability and resilience in a 26-year cropping systems experiment. Field Crops Research 263: 108071. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108071

2. Duchene, O.#, B. Dumont, D. Cattani, L. Fagnant, B. Schlautman, L. R. DeHaan, S. Barriball, J. Jungers, V. Picasso, C. David, F. Celette. 2021. Process-based analysis of Thinopyrum intermedium phenological development highlights the importance of dual induction for reproductive growth and agronomic performance. Agricultural & Forest Meteorology (accepted).

3. Ivancic, K., A. Locatelli, W. Tracy, and V. Picasso#. 2021. Kernza Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) response to a range of vernalization conditions. Canadian Journal of Plant Sciences (accepted)

4. Zimbric, J.W., D. Stoltenberg, V. Picasso#. 2020. Strategies to reduce plant height in dual-use intermediate wheatgrass cropping systems. Agronomy Journal (accepted). doi: 10.1002/agj2.20544

5. *Sakiroglu, M., Dong, C., Hall, M.B., Jungers, J. and Picasso, V#. 2020. How does nitrogen and forage harvest affect belowground biomass and non‐structural carbohydrates in dual use Kernza intermediate wheatgrass? Crop Science 2020; 60:2562–2573. DOI:10.1002/csc2.20239

6. *Zimbric, J.W., D.E. Stoltenberg, V.D. Picasso#. 2020. Effective weed suppression in dual-use intermediate wheatgrass systems. Agronomy Journal 112:2164-2175. DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20194

7. Darre, E., E. Llanos, L. Astigarraga, M. Cadenazzi, V. Picasso#. 2020. Do pasture-based mixed dairy systems with higher milk production have lower environmental impacts? A Uruguayan case study. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. DOI: 10.1080/00288233.2020.1750433

8. Siri-Prieto#, G., O. Ernst, M. Bustamante, V. Picasso. 2020. Impact of nitrogen and phosphorous on biomass yield, nitrogen efficiency, and nutrient removal of perennial grasses for bioenergy. Biomass and Bioenergy 136: 105526. DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105526

9. *Favre, J.R., T. Munoz Castiblanco, D.K. Combs, M.A. Wattiaux, and V.D. Picasso#. 2019. Forage nutritive value and predicted fiber digestibility of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass in monoculture and in mixture with red clover during the first production year. Animal Feed Science and Technology 258, 114298. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114298

10. Modernel, P.#, V. Picasso, M. Do Carmo, W.A. H. Rossing, M. Corbeels, P. Soca, S. Dogliotti, P. Tittonell. 2019. Grazing management for more resilient mixed livestock farming systems on native grasslands of southern South America. Grass and Forage Science 74:636–649. DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12445

11. Lanker, M., M. Bell, and V. Picasso#. 2019. Farmer perspectives and experiences introducing the novel perennial grain Kernza intermediate wheatgrass in the US Midwest. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 1-10. 1900031 DOI:10.1017/S1742170519000310

12. *Picasso, V.#, M. Casler, D. Undersander. 2019. Resilience, stability, and productivity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars in rainfed regions of North America. Crop Science. 59:1–11. DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2018.06.0372. This paper was selected third place for the Crop Science Outstanding Paper Award for the Forage and Grazinglands division (C6), designed to honor members who have made important contributions to the study of crop science through basic and applied research.


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13. Favre, J.R., K. A. Albrecht, L. Gutierrez, and V. Picasso#. 2019. Harvesting oat forage at late heading increases milk production per unit of area. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management 5(1):1-8 180046. DOI:10.2134/cftm2018.06.0046

14. Darre, E., M. Cadenazzi, S. R. Mazzilli, J. F. Rosas, V. Picasso#. 2018. Environmental impacts on water resources from summer crops in rainfed and irrigated systems. Journal of Environmental Management 232:514-522. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.090

15. Bresciano, D., A. Del Pino, A. Borges, M. Tejera, P. Speranza, L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso#. 2018. Perennial C4 grasses increase root biomass and carbon in sown temperate pastures. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 62(3): 332-342. DOI: 10.1080/00288233.2018.1504089

16. Modernel, P.#, S. Dogliotti, S. Alvarez, M. Corbeels, V. Picasso, P. Tittonell, W.A. Rossing. 2018. Identification of beef production farms in the Pampas and Campos area that stand out in economic and environmental performance. Ecological Indicators 89:755-770. DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.01.038

17. Llanos, E., L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso#. 2018. Energy and economic efficiency in grazing dairy systems under alternative intensification strategies. European Journal of Agronomy 92: 133-140. DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2017.10.010

18. *Picasso, V#. 2018. The biodiversity-ecosystem function debate: An interdisciplinary dialogue between ecology, agriculture and agroecology. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 42(3):264-273. DOI:10.1080/21683565.2017.1359806

19. Cruz, G., W. Baethgen, D. Bartaburu, M. Bidegain, A. Giménez, M. Methol, H. Morales, V. Picasso#, G. Podesta, R. Taddei, R. Terra, G. Tiscornia, M. Vinocur. 2017. Thirty years of multi-level processes for adaptation of livestock production to droughts in Uruguay. Weather, Climate, and Society 10:59-74. DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-16-0133.1

20. Cruz, G.#, R. Guevara, R. Terra, V. Picasso, and L. Astigarraga. 2017. Information and climate services for decision making from the perspective of the Interdisciplinary Center in Response to Climate Variability and Change (Información y servicios climáticos para la toma de decisiones desde la perspectiva del Centro Interdisciplinario de Respuesta al Cambio y la Variabilidad Climática). INTERdisciplina CIICH. UNAM. Mexico. Vol 5 (13):101-122. DOI: 10.22201/ceiich.24485705e.2017.13.62383

21. Pischke, C.#; J. L. Knowlton; C.C. Phifer; J. Gutierrez Lopez; T.S. Propato; A. Eastmond; T. Martins de Souza; M. Kuhlberg; V. Picasso; S. R. Veron; C. Garcia; M. Chiappe; K. E. Halvorsen. 2017. Barriers and solutions to conducting large international, interdisciplinary research projects. Journal of Environmental Management 60 (6): 1011-1021. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-017-0939-8

22. Halty, V.#, M. Valdés, M. Tejera, V. Picasso, H. Fort. 2017. Modelling plant interspecific interactions from experiments of perennial crop mixtures to predict optimal combinations. Ecological Applications 27(8):2277 – 2289. DOI: 10.1002/eap.1605

23. Bussoni, A., J. Alvarez, F. Cubbage, G. Ferreira, V. Picasso#. 2017. Diverse strategies for integration of forestry and livestock production. Agroforestry Systems 93:333–344. DOI:10.1007/s10457-017-0092-7

24. Van Tassel, D.#, K. Albrecht, JD Bever, AA. Boe, Y. Brandvain, T.E. Crews, M. Gansberger, P. Gerstberger, L. González-Paleo, B.S. Hulke, N.C. Kane, P.J. Johnson, E.G. Pestsova, V. Picasso, J.R. Prasifka, DA. Ravetta, B. Schlautman, C.C. Sheaffer, K.P. Smith, P.R. Speranza, M. K. Turner, A.E Vilela, P. von-Gehren, and C. Weaver. 2017. Accelerating Silphium domestication: An opportunity to develop new crop ideotypes and breeding strategies informed by multiple disciplines. Crop Science 57:1274-1284. DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2016.10.0834


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25. Picasso, V.#, D. Schaefer, P. Modernel, L. Astigarraga. 2017. Ecological intensification of beef grazing systems. Grassland Science in Europe 22: 218-220. ISBN: 978-88-901771-9-4

26. Modernel, P.#, W. Rossing, M. Corbeels, S. Dogliotti, V. Picasso, P. Tittonel. 2016. Land use change and ecosystem service provision in Pampas and Campos grasslands of southern South America. Environmental Research Letters 11 (2016) 113002. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/11/11/113002

27. Tejera, M., P. Speranza, L. Astigarraga, and V. Picasso#. 2015. Forage biomass, soil cover, stability and competition in perennial grass–legume pastures with different Paspalum species. Grass and Forage Science 71: 575-583. DOI: 10.1111/gfs.12208

28. Halvorsen, K.#, J. L. Knowlton, A. S. Mayer, C. C. Phifer, T. Martins, E. C. Pischke, T. S. Propato, P. Cavigliasso, C. Garcia, M. Chiappe, A. Eastmond, J. Licata, M. Kuhlberg, R. Medeiros, V. Picasso, G. Mendez, P. Primo, A. Frado, S. Veron, J. L. Dunn. 2015. A case study of strategies for fostering international, interdisciplinary research. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 6:313-323. DOI: 10.1007/s13412-015-0336-7

29. Picasso, V.#, P. Modernel, G. Becoña, L. Salvo, L. Gutiérrez, L. Astigarraga. 2014. Sustainability of meat production beyond carbon footprint: a synthesis of case studies from grazing systems in Uruguay. Meat Science 98: 346–354. DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.07.005

30. Cruz, G.#, W. Baethgen, V. Picasso, R. Terra. 2014. An analysis of agronomic droughts in two livestock regions in Uruguay (in spanish). Agrociencia (Uruguay) 18(1):126-132. ISSN 2301-1548

31. Becoña, G., L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso#. 2014. Greenhouse gas emissions of cow-calf grazing systems in Uruguay. Sustainable Agriculture Research 3(2):89-105. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.230526

32. Lizarralde, C.#, V. Picasso, A. Rotz, M. Cadenazzi, L. Astigarraga. 2014. Practices to reduce milk carbon footprint on grazing dairy farms in southern Uruguay: Case studies. Sustainable Agriculture Research 3(2):1-15. DOI: 10.5539/sar.v3n2p1

33. Llanos, E., L. Astigarraga, R. Jacques, & V. Picasso#. 2013. Energy efficiency of dairy systems in Uruguay (in spanish). Agrociencia (Uruguay) 17(2):99-109. ISSN : 1510-0839

34. Modernel, P., L. Astigarraga, & V. Picasso#. 2013. Global versus local environmental impacts of grazing and confined beef production systems. Environmental Research Letters 8:035052. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035052

35. Connolly, J.#; T. Bell, T. Bolger, C. Brophy, T. Carnus, J. A. Finn, L. Kirwan, F. Isbell, J. Levine, A. Lüscher, V. Picasso, C. Roscher, M. T. Sebastia, M. Suter, A. Weigelt. 2013. An improved model to predict the effects of changing biodiversity levels on ecosystem function. Journal of Ecology 101:344-55. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12052

36. Dini, Y.; J. Gere; C. Briano; M. Manetti; P. Juliarena; V. Picasso; R. Gratton; L. Astigarraga#. 2012. Methane emission and milk production of dairy cows grazing pastures rich in legumes or rich in grasses in Uruguay. Animals 2:288-300. DOI: 10.3390/ani2020288

37. Picasso, V.#; E. C. Brummer; M. Liebman; P. Dixon; B. Wilsey. 2011. Diverse perennial crop mixtures sustain higher productivity over time based on ecological complementarity. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 26(4): 317–327. DOI: 10.1017/S1742170511000135

38. Picasso, V.#; E.C. Brummer; M. Liebman. 2010. Diversity and stability in experimental grassland communities. Grassland Science in Europe 15: 827-829

39. Picasso, V.#; E.C. Brummer; M. Liebman; P. M. Dixon; B. J. Wilsey. 2008. Crop species diversity affects productivity and weed suppression in perennial polycultures under two management strategies. Crop Science 48: 331-342. DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2007.04.0225


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Invited papers, conference proceedings, and scientific abstracts published in conference proceedings 1. Cartoni, S. and V. Picasso. 2020. Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and legume

dual-use polycultures in Wisconsin. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, On-line, USA. 2. Olugbenle, O. and V. Picasso. 2020. Optimal planting date of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass. ASA-

CSSA annual meetings, On-line, USA. 3. Locatelli, A. and V.D. Picasso. 2020. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass variability in vernalization

requirements. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, On-line, USA. 4. Bhatta, M., S. Bullock, L. Gutierrez, and V. Picasso. 2020. Genetics of resilience and stability to

climate change in oat (Avena sativa L.). ASA-CSSA annual meetings, On-line, USA. 5. Wiesner, S., V. Picasso, A. Desai, A. Duff. 2019. Land-atmosphere interactions of intermediate

wheatgrass grown in Wisconsin. 100th American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA.

6. Picasso, V. 2019. Optimizing agronomic management of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as perennial grain and forage crop. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, San Antonio, TX, USA.

7. Bullock, S., L. Gutierrez, V. Picasso. 2019. Resilience and stability of oats to climate variability. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, San Antonio, TX, USA.

8. Llanos, E., E. Darré, L. Astigarraga, M. Cadenazzi, and V. Picasso. 2019. Optimal pasture intake to achieve high dairy productivity and to reduce environmental impacts. 6th International Symposium for Farming Systems Design. Montevideo, Uruguay.

9. Favre, J., J. Jungers, M. Hunter, C. Sheaffer, and V. Picasso. 2019. Grazing does not affect Kernza grain yield and can reduce lodging in dual-use intermediate wheatgrass systems. 10th International Herbage Seed Group Conference, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

10. Picasso, V., M.C. Casler, and D. Undersander. 2019. Resilience and stability of alfalfa cultivars in North America. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference, Orlando, FL, USA.

11. Picasso, V. and A. Locatelli. 2019. Variability in vernalization requirements of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass populations. International Forage and Turfgrass Breeding Conference, Orlando, FL, USA.

12. Zimbric, J., V. Picasso, D. Stoltenberg. 2018. Plant growth regulator effects on intermediate wheatgrass-weed communities. North Central Weed Sci. Society Meeting. Milwaukee, WI, USA.

13. Favre, J. and V. Picasso. 2018. Forage yield and nutritive value of perennial grain Kernza grown in monoculture and intercropped with red clover. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.

14. Favre, J., J. Jungers, N. Tautges, C. Sheaffer, and V. Picasso. 2018. Effects of spring and fall grazing on grain yield, forage yield and forage nutritive value of perennial grain Kernza grown in monoculture and intercropped with red clover. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.

15. Zimbric, J., D.E. Stoltenberg, and V. Picasso. 2018. Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium): Legume-intercrop mixtures suppress weed productivity during the first and second production years. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.

16. Zimbric, J.; D.E. Stoltenberg, and V. Picasso. 2018. Perennial grain and forage Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) cropping systems effectively suppress weeds during the first three production years. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.

17. Ivancic, K., W. Tracy, V. Picasso. 2018. Economic optimum N in Kernza cropping systems using organic and inorganic N sources. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.

18. Ivancic, K., W. Tracy, V. Picasso. 2018. Kernza-red clover intercropping: nitrogen and root Mmass dynamics. ASA-CSSA annual meetings, Baltimore, MD, USA.


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19. Dong, C., Sakiroglu M., M.B. Hall, V. Picasso. 2018. Forage harvest and nitrogen affect non-structural carbohydrates in Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) root systems. International Congress on Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Alanya, Turkey.

20. Favre, J. and V. Picasso. 2018. Forage yield and nutritive value of perennial grain Kernza grown in monoculture and intercropped with red clover. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Logan, UT, USA.

21. Picasso, V., M.C. Casler and D. Undersander. 2018. Resilience, stability and productivity of alfalfa in North America. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Logan, UT, USA.

22. Sanford, G.R., Jackson, R.J., Picasso, V. 2018. Resilience and stability of productivity in integrated cropping systems of the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems trial. In: 2018 The future of long-term experiments in agricultural science. Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK. p. 48.

23. Darre, E. and V. Picasso. 2017. Impactos ambientales en agua de rotaciones agrícolas de secano y riego en Uruguay. Conferencia Internacional de Análisis de Ciclo de Vida en Latinoamérica, CILCA, Medellín, Colombia.

24. Bussoni A., L. Díaz-Balteiro, F. Cubbage, V. Picasso, F. Dieguez, J. Alvarez, G. Ferreira, M. Boscana, F. Varela. 2017. Sostenibilidad de la producción madera y ganado a través de un modelo de programación matemática. IX Congreso Internacional de Sistemas Silvopastoriles, Manizales, Colombia.

25. Zimbric, J., V. Picasso, D. Stoltenberg. 2017. Legume intercrops for weed suppression in Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) cropping systems. North Central Weed Science Society Meeting. St. Louis, MO, USA.

26. Picasso, V., and G. Sanford. 2017. Resilience, stability and productivity in crop & livestock systems, ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, Tampa, FL, USA.

27. Dong, C., and V. Picasso. 2017. Effects of forage harvest on non-structural carbohydrates and spring regrowth of Kernza® Intermediate wheatgrass, ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, Tampa, FL, USA.

28. Favre, J., K. Albrecht, L. Gutiérrez, V. Picasso. 2017. Optimal harvest timing for spring-grown oat forage. ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, Tampa, FL, USA.

29. Zimbric, J., D. Stoltenberg, V. Picasso. 2017. Weed Suppression in dual-purpose Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) cropping systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, Tampa, FL, USA.

30. Ivancic, K., V. Picasso. 2017. Understanding vernalization and photoperiod requirements for perennial grain crop, Kernza. ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, Tampa, FL, USA.

31. Ivancic, K., and V. Picasso. 2017. Understanding vernalization and photoperiod requirements for perennial grain crop Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium). EUCARPIA Triticea Symposium, Wernigerode, Germany.

32. Orcasberro, M.S., C. Loza, J. Gere, P. Juliarena, A. Alvarez-Oxiley, P. Modernel, P. Soca, V. Picasso, L. Astigarraga. 2017. Methane emissions and dry matter intake in pregnant heifers grazing on rangeland. III Conference Greenhouse Gases and Agricultural Systems in Latin America - GALA, Colonia, Uruguay.

33. Bresciano, D., M. Tejera, A. Del Pino, P. Speranza, V. Picasso. 2017. Secuestro de carbono en mezclas forrajeras con gramíneas nativas perennes. III Conference Greenhouse Gases and Agricultural Systems in Latin America - GALA, Colonia, Uruguay.

34. Modernel, P., V. Picasso, W. Rossing, M. Corbeels, S. Dogliotti, P. Tittonell. 2017. Carbon footprint per unit of production and per hectare yield in the Rio de la Plata grasslands: Which are the trade-


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offs? III Conference Greenhouse Gases and Agricultural Systems in Latin America - GALA, Colonia, Uruguay.

35. Picasso, V., and D. Undersander. 2016. Resilience, stability, and productivity of alfalfa in the midwestern United States. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Meetings. Phoenix, AZ.

36. Picasso, V., E. Llanos, P. Modernel, G. Becona, C. Lizarralde, L. Astigarraga. 2016. Ecological intensification of grazing dairy and beef systems in Uruguay. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Meetings. Phoenix, AZ.

37. Orcasberro, M.S., C. Loza, J. Gere, P. Juliarena, A. Alvarez Oxiley, V. Picasso, P. Soca, L. Astigarraga. 2016. Efecto de la oferta de forraje sobre el consumo y las emisiones de metano de vacas de primera cría en pastoreo continuo sobre campo natural. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal 24(1): 888. ALPA Recife, Brazil.

38. Picasso,V., P. Modernel, G. Becona, E. Llanos, C. Lizarralde, L. Astigarraga. 2016. Intensificación ecológica de sistemas de producción lechera y ganadera pastoriles en Uruguay. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal 24(1): 942. ALPA Recife, Brazil.

39. Picasso, V., Modernel, P., Becoña, G., Salvo, L., Gutierrez, L., Astigarraga, L. 2016. Sustentabilidad biofísica en agroecosistemas pastoriles: una visión de largo plazo. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

40. Bellenda, B, Plada, S., Faroppa, S., Linari, G., Villalba, C., Abadie, P., Picasso, V., Gazzano, I. 2016. Hacia un plan de agroecología para la soberanía alimentaria y la inclusión social. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

41. Darré, E. and Picasso, V. 2016. Impactos ambientales en agua de rotaciones agrícolas de secano y riego en Uruguay. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

42. Modernel, P. W. Rossing, M. Corbeels, S. Dogliotti, V. Picasso, S. Alvarez., P. Tittonel. 2016. Diversidad e impacto ambiental de los sistemas de producción ganaderos de los pastizales del Río de la Plata. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomia, UDELAR. Montevideo.

43. Llanos, E., Astigarraga, L., V. Picasso. 2016. Eficiencia energética y económica en sistemas de producción de leche bajo estrategias de intensificación alternativas a pastoreo. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

44. Modernel, P. W. Rossing, M. Corbeels, S. Dogliotti, V. Picasso, P. Tittonel. 2016. Producción de carne y provisión de servicios ecosistémicos en los pastizales del Río de la Plata. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

45. Urrutia, M., Picasso, V., Cadenazzi, M., Castiglioni, E. 2016. Biodiversidad de artrópodos como indicadores de sustentabilidad frente a cambios en la intensidad de pastoreo en campo natural. Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios. Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR. Montevideo.

46. Picasso, V. 2016. Ecological intensification in agroecosystems: redesigning livestock, bioenergy, and crop production towards sustainability. Ecological Society of America Annual meetings. Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

47. Picasso, V., and D. Undersander. 2016. Resilience, stability, and productivity of alfalfa cultivars in Wisconsin. North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Madison, WI.


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48. Bussoni A., Ferreira G., Alvarez J, V. Picasso, Cubbage F. 2015. Modelos integrados de produccion carne y madera: la evolucion reciente en el Uruguay. VIII Congreso Internacional de Sistemas Agroforestales, Puerto Iguazu, Paraguay.

49. Boscana M., Bussoni A., V. Picasso. Efecto del marco de plantacion en la sustentabilidad de sistemas silvopastoriles en la region este de Uruguay. VIII Congreso Internacional de Sistemas Agroforestales, Puerto Iguazu, Paraguay.

50. Bussoni A., V. Picasso, Boscana M., Cubbage F. 2014. Tipos de produccion conjunta carne y madera en Uruguay. Segundo Congreso de Ciencias Sociales Agrarias, Salto, Uruguay.

51. Picasso, V. 2014. Agroecosystems and their provision of ecosystem services. International Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) Forum on Ecosystem Services. Montevideo. (Invited)

52. Modernel, P., F. Dieguez, M. Pereira y V. Picasso. 2014. Resiliencia del campo natural frente a sequías: ¿Cómo medirla? V Congreso de la Asociación Uruguaya de Producción Animal, Montevideo.

53. Llanos, E., L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso. 2014. Eficiencia productiva, energética y económica en sistemas de producción de leche del Uruguay. V Congreso de la Asociación Uruguaya de Producción Animal, Montevideo.

54. Tejera, M., V. Picasso, P. Speranza. 2014. Paspalum en mezclas forrajeras: disponibilidad de forraje, resistencia a la invasión, y estabilidad. XV Jornadas de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Biociencias, Piriápolis.

55. Bresciano, D., M. Tejera, A. Del Pino, P. Speranza, V. Picasso. 2014. El aporte de las raíces de gramíneas perennes nativas en el secuestro de carbono en mezclas forrajeras. XV Jornadas de la Sociedad Uruguaya de Biociencias, Piriápolis.

56. Picasso, V. 2014. Playing sustainably in meat production: carbon footprint and beyond. 60th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology. Punta del Este. Uruguay. (Invited)

57. Picasso, V. and P. Caputi. 2013. Agronegocios y gestión de recursos naturales en el Uruguay (Agribusiness and natural resource management in Uruguay). Invited presentation at ORT University and CAF Annual Lectures on Agribusiness.

58. Picasso, V. 2013. La historia del debate sobre la biodiversidad y el funcionamiento ecosistémico: un diálogo entre ecología y agronomía. EXTENSO. AUGM. Montevideo.

59. Picasso, V., L. Astigarraga, G. Cruz, R. Terra, D. Bartaburu, H. Morales, L. Caorsi, C. Lizarralde, A. Quiñones, F. de Torres, J. Taks, M. Mondelli. 2013. Sensibilidad y capacidad adaptativa de los sistemas ganaderos y lecheros a la variabilidad y el cambio climático en Uruguay. EXTENSO. AUGM. Montevideo.

60. Caorsi, ML, G. Cruz, V. Picasso, L. Astigarraga. 2013. Adaptación de los sistemas de producción de leche a la sequía. EXTENSO. AUGM. Montevideo.

61. Picasso, V. 2013. La historia del debate sobre la biodiversidad y el funcionamiento ecosistémico: un diálogo entre ecología y agronomía. EXTENSO. AUGM. Montevideo.

62. Picasso, V., C. Lizarralde, C. Molina, D. Bartaburu, H. Morales, L. Astigarraga. 2013. A quantitative assessment of robustness to drought in livestock grazing systems in Uruguay. First International Global Food Security Conference. Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands

63. Picasso, V., L. Astigarraga, Y. Dini, J. Dijkstra, E. Kebreab. 2013. An evaluation of mechanistic and empirical models of methane emissions in grazing dairy cattle. Greenhouse Gases and Animal Agriculture. Dublin.

64. Becoña, G., L. Astigarraga, J. Franco, V. Picasso. 2013. Greenhouse gas emissions of Uruguayan beef cow-calf systems. Greenhouse Gases and Animal Agriculture. Dublin.


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Note: contributions before 2013 are not listed here. Monographs or books published

1. Astigarraga, L., R. Terra, G. Cruz, V. Picasso. 2015. Interdisciplinary center in response to climate variability and change: Links science-policy and science-society (in Spanish). UDELAR. Montevideo, Uruguay.124 pp. (ISSN 2301-0835).

2. Picasso, V., G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, R. Terra. 2013. Climate variability and change: Interdisciplinary answers (in Spanish). UDELAR. Montevideo, Uruguay.132 pp. (ISSN 2301-0835)

3. Bartaburu, D., H. Morales, F. Dieguez, C. Lizarralde, A. Quiñones, M. Pereira, C. Molina, E. Montes, P. Modernel, J. Taks, F. De Torres, P. Cobas, M. Mondelli, R. Terra, G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso. 2013. Sensitivity and adaptive capacity of livestock systems to climate change (in Spanish). MGAP-FAO, Montevideo. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/as255s/as255s.pdf

4. Astigarraga, L., G. Cruz, M.L. Caorsi, J. Taks, P. Cobas, M. Mondelli, V. Picasso. 2013. Sensitivity and adaptive capacity of dairy systems to climate change (in Spanish). MGAP-FAO, Montevideo. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/as256s/as256s.pdf

5. Mazzilli, S., C. Bonilla, G. Siri, P. Arbeletche, V. Rubio, P. Bacigaluz, J. Taks, M. García, P. Cobas, M. Mondelli, G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso. 2013. Sensitivity and adaptive capacity of agriculture systems to climate change (in Spanish). MGAP-FAO, Montevideo. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/as257s/as257s.pdf

6. Ferrer, M., G. Camussi, M. Fourment, V. Varela, G. Pereyra, J. Taks, S. Contreras, G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso. 2013. Sensitivity and adaptive capacity of wine and fruit production systems to climate change (in Spanish). MGAP-FAO, Montevideo. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/as258s/as258s.pdf

7. Rosas, J. F., I. Arboleya, M. Carriquiry, H. Licandro, J. Millán, V. Picasso. 2013. Public policy and adaptation measures of agriculture to climate change (in Spanish). MGAP-FAO, Montevideo. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/as259s/as259s.pdf

Chapters in books

1. Cherney, J.H., R. L. Kallenbach, V. D. Picasso. 2020. Systems for temperate humid areas.

Chapter 20. In: K.J. Moore, M. Collins, J. Nelson, D. Redfearn (Eds.) Forages: the science of grassland agriculture. Volume II. 7th Edition. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119436669.ch20. This is the reference textbook for Forage Science in the USA and abroad. I was invited to contribute to the chapter on forage systems for temperate humid areas. This is one of the highest honors for a forage scientist.

2. Dunn, J.L., J.L. Knowlton, R.M. Handler, E.C. Pischke, K.E. Halvorsen, M. Azahara Mesa-Jurado, T. Selfa, D. Flaspohler, J. Licata. E. Mata-Zayas, R. Medeiros, C. Moseley, E. Nielsen, V. Picasso, J.C. Sacramento Rivero, T. de Souza, C. Vazquez, and N. Basiliko. 2019. Lessons from the Transdisciplinary International BIOPIRE Project. In: K.E. Halvorsen, C. Schelly, R. Handler, E. Pischke, and J.L. Knowlton, Eds., A Research Agenda for Environmental Management. E. Elgar Pub., USA

3. Cabrera, M.C., L. Astigarraga, O. Borsani, G. Camussi, P. Caputti, M. Carriquiry, P. Chilibroste, M. Ferrer, G. Galván, F. García Préchac, L. Grille, C. Marino, D. Panario, A. Saadoun, P. Soca, V. Picasso, D. Vázquez F. Zaccari. 2017. Uruguay, Food producer for the world: towards a

https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119436669.ch20


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sustainable production from a food and nutritional security perspective. Pp: 558-593 In: M. T. Clegg (coord.). Food and nutrition security in the Americas: A view from the academies of sciences. Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences. Mexican Academy of Sciences, Mexico City.

4. Tejera, M., Speranza, P., Astigarraga, L., Picasso, V. 2017. Efecto de la inclusión de dos gramíneas estivales con hábitos de crecimiento contrastante en mezclas forrajeras perennes (Effect of inclusión of two warm season grasses with contrasting growth habits in perennial forage mixtures). pp: 16-23 IN: Speranza, P. (Ed.) Utilización y domesticación de gramíneas forrajeras del género Paspalum en Uruguay. INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria) Serie FPTA No 61. Montevideo, Uruguay.

5. Picasso, V. 2016. Sustentabilidad y resiliencia en sistemas de campo natural (Sustainability and resilience in native grasslands production systems). Módulo 6. In: MGAP. Producción animal sostenible en pastoreo sobre campo natural. Montevideo. Uruguay. https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/sites/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/files/documentos/publicaciones/libro_campo_natural_final_en_baja.pdf

6. Astigarraga, L. and V. Picasso. 2015. La investigación para aportar a la elaboración de políticas: un estudio de caso (Research to inform public policy: a case study). Chapter 3 in: CIRCVC. Cambio y variabilidad climática: vínculos ciencia-política y ciencia-sociedad (Climate variability and change: linking science-policy and science-society). EI, UDELAR, Montevideo.

7. CIRCVC, et al. and V. Picasso. 2013 Sensibilidad y capacidad adaptativa de los agro-ecosistemas frente a los efectos del cambio climático. Chapter 3 in: Oyhantcabal, W., D. Sancho and M. Galván. Clima de cambios. Nuevos Desafíos De Adaptación En Uruguay (TCP/URU/3302). http://www.fao.org/3/a-au192s.pdf

8. Astigarraga, L., G. Cruz, V. Picasso, R. Terra, M. Achkar, G. Becoña, M.L. Caorsi, I. Gazzano, M. Ceroni, F. De Torres, M. Fourment, M. García Cartagena, A. Gómez, P. Modernel, C. Toranza. 2013. Centro Interdisciplinario Respuesta Al Cambio y Variabilidad Climática. In: Picasso, V., G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, R. Terra, R. (Eds.) Cambio y Variabilidad Climática: Respuestas interdisciplinarias. EI, UDELAR, Montevideo

9. Cruz, G., R. Terra, V. Picasso, L. Astigarraga. 2013. Desafíos del cambio y variabilidad climática, 2013. In: Picasso, V., Cruz, G., Astigarraga, L., Terra, R. (Eds.) Cambio y Variabilidad Climática: Respuestas interdisciplinarias. EI, UDELAR, Montevideo

10. Modernel, P., V. Picasso, L. Astigarraga. 2013. Emisiones de GEI en invernada vacuna del Uruguay, 2013. In: Picasso, V., G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, R. Terra, R. (Eds.) Cambio y Variabilidad Climática: Respuestas interdisciplinarias. EI, UDELAR, Montevideo

11. Becoña, G., L. Astigarraga, V. Picasso. 2013. Análisis de las emisiones de GEI en sistemas criadores del Uruguay. In: Picasso, V., G. Cruz, L. Astigarraga, R. Terra, R. (Eds.) Cambio y Variabilidad Climática: Respuestas interdisciplinarias. EI, UDELAR, Montevideo

12. Delaplante, K. and V. Picasso. 2011. The Biodiversity–Ecosystem Function Debate in Ecology. Handbook of the Philosophy of Science. Volume 11: Philosophy of Ecology. Volume editors: Kevin deLaplante, Bryson Brown, and Kent A. Peacock. General editors: Dov M. Gabbay, Paul Thagard and John Woods. Elsevier.

https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/sites/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/files/documentos/publicaciones/libro_campo_natural_final_en_baja.pdf

https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/sites/ministerio-ganaderia-agricultura-pesca/files/documentos/publicaciones/libro_campo_natural_final_en_baja.pdf

http://www.fao.org/3/a-au192s.pdf


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Invited editorial, technical reports, and other publications

1. Picasso, V. 2020. Closing the alfalfa yield gap and increasing resilience to climate change. Research update. Forage Focus. p. 8. Midwest Forage Association. August 2020.

2. Picasso, V., Undersander, D. 2019. Dataset: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars mean annual forage yield (US Ton ac-1) from Northeast USA and Ontario (Canada) from 1995 to 2013. Ag Data Commons. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1504130. Accessed 2020-02-13.

3. DeHaan, L., J. Favre, F. Forcella, J. M. Jungers, V. Picasso, A. Reser. 2019. Approaches to managing intermediate wheatgrass for dual-use forage and Kernza® perennial grain production. Green Lands Blue Waters. Available on line at www.kernza.org

4. Favre, J. and Picasso, V. 2018. Forage yield and nutritive value of perennial grain Kernza grown in monoculture and intercropped with red clover. Forage Focus. August 2018, p. 20. Midwest Forage Association

5. Picasso, V. 2016. Dual purpose perennial forage and grain Kernza. Research update. Forage Focus. Midwest Forage Association. November 2016.

6. Picasso, V. 2016. Changing climate brings new opportunities and challenges for increasing forage and pasture production in the Midwest. Forage Focus. Midwest Forage Association. March 2016, p. 7.

List of invited oral research presentations

International invitations

1. Transdisciplinary research and case studies. Panelist. Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress. Brisbane. Australia. 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19).

2. Adaptations of forage systems to climate change. Colloque sur les Plantes Fourragères (Colloquium on Forage Plants). CRAAQ, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ste-Julie, Quebec, Canada. February 20, 2020.

3. Optimizing management of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as a perennial grain and forage crop. Conference “Is the future of Agriculture Perennial?” Lund, Sweden. May 6-10, 2019.

4. Towards sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems via agroecological intensification. Corteva Plant Sciences Symposia Series. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. December 6-14, 2018.

5. Sustainability of grazing agroecosystems: A long-term vision (Sustentabilidad biofísica de agroecosistemas pastoriles: una visión de largo plazo). Seminario Sustentabilidad de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios (Seminar on Sustainability of Agricultural Systems). Facultad de Agronomía, UDELAR, Montevideo, Uruguay. October 18, 2016.

6. Multiple purpose perennial polycultures provide sustained yields and higher efficiency in food production. 7th International Crop Science Conference, Beijing, China. August 14-19, 2016.

7. Playing sustainably in Meat Production: carbon footprint and beyond. 60th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICOMST). Punta del Este, Uruguay. August 17-22, 2016.

National (USA) invitations

1. Perenniality and diversity improve stability and climate resilience of cropping systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA international annual meeting, on-line, USA. November 8-11, 2020.

http://www.kernza.org/


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2. Kernza forage value, weed suppression, belowground biomass, and how to maintain grain yield over time. Fifth International Kernza Conference. On-line. June 8-12, 2020.

3. Agroecological design of perennial polycultures for grain and forage. Polycultures and Permaculture Conference. Agriculture Sustainability Institute, University of California, Davis. February 6, 2020.

4. Optimizing forage and grain value of Kernza in polycultures. Fourth International Kernza Conference. Madison, WI, USA. July 1-2, 2019.

5. Intermediate wheatgrass - Kernza: for Wisconsin and for the world. Third International Kernza Conference, Lindborg, KS, USA. July 27-29, 2018.

6. Ecological intensification in agroecosystems: redesigning livestock, bioenergy, and crop production towards sustainability. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA. August 7-12, 2016.

7. Kernza in dual purpose perennial grain polycultures. First International Kernza Conference, Wilson, KS, USA. July 6-9, 2016.

8. Ecospheric studies curriculum ideas. Ecospheric Studies Conference. The Land Institute, Salina, KS, USA. June 17-18, 2016.

Regional (USA) invitations

1. Forage research in Wisconsin update. North Central Coordinating Committee 31 -Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management Annual Meeting. Madison, WI, USA. July 22-23, 2020.

2. Alfalfa resilience to variable environments. Midwest Forage Association Symposium. Wisconsin Dells, WI, USA, February 17-19, 2020.

3. Effective transdisciplinary research for integrating policy and science. 2nd Annual Science Policy Symposium. Madison, WI, USA. November 1-3, 2019.

4. Kernza: A perennial grain and forage crop with multiple uses. Practical Farmers of Iowa Small Grains Conference. Wisconsin Dells, WI, USA. August 15-16, 2019.

5. Improving the definition of ecological intensification in agriculture: Biodiversity in space. Ecological Society of America Annual Meetings, Louisville, KY, USA. August 11-15, 2019.

6. Forage research in Wisconsin update. North Central Coordinating Committee 31 - Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management Annual Meeting. Madison, WI, USA. July 17-18, 2019.

7. Silphium research in Wisconsin. Silphium meeting, St. Paul, MN, USA. July 2018. 8. Forage research in Wisconsin update. North Central Coordinating Committee 31 -

Ecophysiological Aspects of Forage Management Annual Meeting. Fayetteville, AK, USA. July 26-27, 2018.

9. Intermediate wheatgrass “Kernza” – intercropped with legumes. Green Lands Blue Waters Conference, Madison, WI, USA. November 28-29, 2017.

10. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Diversity Meeting, The Land Institute, Salina, KS, USA. August 15-17, 2017.

11. Winter season forage. MOSES Conference, La Crosse, WI, USA. February 23-25, 2017.


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State (Wisconsin) presentations 1. Kernza: A perennial grain and forage crop for watershed conservation in Wisconsin. Producer-

Led Watershed Protection Grants Annual Workshop – DATCP, Stevens Point, WI. February 19, 2020

2. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as an alternative small grain for organic systems. OGRAIN Conference. Madison, WI, USA. January 24-25, 2020.

3. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass. Organic Field Day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA. August 29, 2019.

4. Kernza perennial grain: A new opportunity for Wisconsin farmers. Agronomy/Soils Field Day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA. August 28, 2019.

5. Kernza Intermediate wheatgrass grazing research. Kernza and Silvopasture Field Day. Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA. October 5 2018.


7. Intermediate wheatgrass intercropped with legumes. Agronomy/Soils Field Day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA, August 22, 2018.

8. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass. Small grains twilight meeting. Buffalo County Field Day. Alma, WI, USA, July 19, 2018.

9. Forage and perennial grains research in Wisconsin. UW-Danish Organic Dairy Farmer Exchange. University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus. May 29, 2018

10. Agriculture, environment, & health. UW-Madison One Health Forum, Madison, WI, USA. October 20, 2017.


12. Intermediate wheatgrass for forage and grain. Agronomy/Soils Field Day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA, August 30, 2017.

13. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass: A new dual-purpose, perennial grain for Wisconsin farmers. Kernza, Cover Crops and Conservation Field Day. Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, WI. July 19 2017.

14. The last supper talk: Sustainability and resiliency from perennial forage systems. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UW-Madison, Citizen Advisory Council, Madison, WI, USA. January 19, 2017.

15. A greener future: Sustainability, resiliency and ecosystem services through forages. USDA Dairy Forage Research Center, Mission Area Community Discussions. Madison, WI, USA. January 18, 2017.

16. Resilience of forage production in Wisconsin. Driftless Region Grazing Workshop. Marshfield, WI, USA. Sept 13, 2016.

17. Environmental impacts of livestock systems in Uruguay. Animal Breeding and Genetics Seminar – UW-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. October 4, 2016.

18. Forages and grazing for Wisconsin and for the world. Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting, Madison, WI, USA. December 1st, 2015.

19. Grazing perennial forages, climate change, and resilience. Driftless Region Grazing Conference, Dodgeville, WI, USA. December 1st, 2015.


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Research support and grant peer reviews

List of research grant funding– granted during probationary period at UW-Madison I have secured $ 2.1 million in funding for my program (67% from federal sources) at UW-Madison.

Federal funding - ACTIVE

Project Title PI Source Total

Budget $ $ to

Picasso Period mo/yr

Role

Developing and deploying a perennial grain crop enterprise to improve environmental quality and rural prosperity

Jungers (UMN)

USDA NIFA SAS CAP

10,000,000 825,000 8/20-7/25

Co-PI. I co-designed goals and methodology. I am part of coordination team. I lead the Agronomy goal. I mentor a postdoc for this.

Closing the alfalfa yield gap while improving soil health

Tautges (MFAI)

NAFA 98,002 64,562 4/21-3/23

Co-PI. This is an extension of an MFA proposal I am PI. I will mentor a graduate student.

Designing an inter-row forage harvester header for use in dual- purpose grain and forage intercropping systems

Schlautman (TLI)

USDA NIFA

500,000

34,850 12/19-12/22

Co-PI. I contributed to project design. I am responsible for the agronomic trials in WI.

Quantifying ecosystem services on silvopastoral systems in Peru to improve smallholder productivity

Snider (UW-CALSGlobal)

USDA FAS SCRP

49,970

12,000 10/19-3/21

Co-PI. I mentored the graduate student (Pizarro) in this collaborative project between UW-Madison and Peru.

Intercropping the perennial grain Kernza with legumes for sustained economics and environmental benefits

Jungers (UMN)

USDA NIFA SARE

199,946

44,500 1/19-12/21

Co-PI. I contributed to design of goals and methodology. I am responsible for the agronomic field trials in Wisconsin.

Identifying optimal alfalfa germplasm for compatibility and performance in mixed cropping systems

Schlautman (TLI)

NAFA 40,000 13,000 1/19-3/21

Co-PI. I am responsible for experiments in WI, and the forage nutritive value analyses of the entire project.

Resilience of alfalfa cultivars to variable environments

Picasso USDA NIFA

AFRP 299,980 216,278

9/18-8/21

PI. I designed goals and methodology, and collected data in WI. A post-doc in my lab will analyze data and write publications.

Evaluating alfalfa winter survival Sheaffer (UMN)

USDA NIFA AFRP

300,000

64,971 9/18-8/21

Co-PI. I am responsible for the establishment and data collection of field trials in Wisconsin.

Institutions: UMN: University of Minnesota, TLI: The Land Institute. Sources: USDA: United States Department of Agriculture, NIFA: National Institute on Food and Agriculture, CAP: Coordinated Agriculture Project, SAS: Sustainable Agriculture Systems, AFRP: Alfalfa and Forages Research Program, SARE: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, FAS: Foreign Agriculture Service, SCRP: Scientific Cooperation Research Program, ARS: Agriculture Research Service


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Other sources of funding - ACTIVE


Budget $ $ to


Role

Resilience of alfalfa to variable environments (and other projects)

Picasso UW PARCI 15,000 15,000 1/21-12/21

PI. I designed the proposal (Pandemic affected research initiative at UW).

Improving sustainability and resilience of Peruvian Amazon systems through silvopastoralism

Gomez (UNALM)

USAID PEER 158,180 0 12/20-12/22

Collaborator. I co-mentor the graduate student (Pizarro) in this collaborative project between UW-Madison and Peru.

Closing the alfalfa yield gap Picasso MFA 3,000 3,000 5/20-5/21

PI. I designed the proposal with input from a transdisciplinary team of collaborators

Developing high-quality cereals for organic and perennial systems in the Upper Midwest

Picasso USDA Hatch CIAS

75,742 75,742 8/20-7/22

PI. I provided preliminary data, goals and methodology, and I am responsible for the Kernza field trials of interdisciplinary project.

Evaluation of stockpiling pastures to extend the fall grazing season

Akins (UW-

Madison)

USDA Hatch CIAS

97,659 0 8/20-7/22

Co-PI. I contributed to experimental design and agronomic management perspective.

Agronomic management recommendations for Kernza perennial grain/forage crop

Picasso UW

VCRGE 61,021 61,021

4/20-3/21

PI. I developed the proposal and mentor the graduate student (Shoenberger).

Designing perennial grain and forage cropping systems for Wisconsin

Picasso USDA Hatch

139,000 139,000 10/19-9/23

PI. I designed the proposal and mentored the graduate student in the project (Olugbenle).

Agronomic adaptation of Kernza (Intermediate wheatgrass) to temperate regions

Locatelli (UDELAR)

ANII 25,000 0 6/19-6/22

Co-PI. I developed the goals and methodology and I mentor the PhD student (Locatelli).

Identifying optimal alfalfa germplasm for compatibility and performance in mixed cropping systems

Schlautman (TLI)

NAFA 40,000 13,000 1/19-3/21

Co-PI. I am responsible for experiments in WI, and the forage nutritive value analyses of the entire project.

Greenhouse gas fluxes from perennial grain polyculture systems (Eddy-covariance)

Crews (TLI)

Patagonia Provisions

75,000 75,000 10/18-9/23

Co-PI. I coordinate the UW/USDA team to execute the project. Funding from company.

Institutions: UDELAR: Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay), TLI: The Land Institute. Sources: USDA: United States Department of Agriculture, MFA: Midwest Forage Association, NAFA: National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance, CIAS: Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (UW), VCRGE: Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (UW), ANII: National Agency for Research and Innovation (Uruguay)


19

Federal funding - COMPLETED


Budget $ $ to


Role

Cover crops, water quality, and soil health research and outreach (C-CROP)

Bell (UW-Madison)

USDA ARS

500,000 7,000 10/17-9/20

Collaborator. I contributed to monthly meetings and shared information and ideas.

Grazing management of "Kernza" intermediate wheatgrass as a dual-purpose crop

Picasso USDA NIFA SARE

200,000 113,931 10/16-9/19

PI. I developed the proposal with input from transdisciplinary team, was responsible for data collection in WI (Lancaster research station and farmers), and mentored the graduate student in the project (Favre).

Other sources of funding - COMPLETED


Budget $ $ to


Role

Developing perennial grain polyculture Kernza-legume systems in Wisconsin

Picasso UW-

Madison VCRGE

75,000 75,000 4/18 -3/19

PI. I designed the proposal and mentored graduate (Cartoni) and undergraduate students in the project.

Ecosystem servicing of perennial grains Kernza and Silphium

Picasso The Land Institute

85,000 85,000 1/17-1/19

PI. I designed proposal and was responsible for data collection and reports.

Resilience, stability, and productivity: From cultivars to cropping systems

Picasso USDA Hatch

136,035 136,035 4/17-3/20

PI. I designed the proposal and mentored graduate student (Bullock) in the project.

Perennial grain polycultures in Wisconsin Picasso The Land Institute

30,000 30,000 1/16-12/18

PI. I designed proposal, co-mentored graduate student (Zimbric), and visiting scholars (Dong, Zhang) working on this project.

Sources: USDA: United States Department of Agriculture, VCRGE: Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (UW)


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List of completed grants prior to being Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

Project Title (and student mentored) PI Source Budget $ Period

Environmental impacts of livestock systems (Darre) Picasso ANII-UY 28 K 2015 -18

Dairy intensification strategies (Llanos) Picasso CSIC-UY 28 K 2015 -18

Sustainability and resilience of beef livestock systems on native grasslands under different grazing intensity

Picasso et al.

ANII-UY 120 K 2014-17

Biodiversity of arthropods as sustainability indicators of grazing intensity in grasslands (Urrutia)

Picasso ANII-UY 15 K 2015-17

Environmental impacts of confined vs grazing dairy systems in Uruguay (Melognio)

Picasso CSIC-UY 7 K 2015-16

Transferring climate knowledge in the science-policy interface for adaptation to drought

Cruz et al.

IAI-CNR3 160 K 2014-17

Interdisciplinary science team skill building to study socioecological impacts of bioenergy in the Americas

Halvorsen et al.

IAI-CNR3 200 K 2014-16

Economic and environmental sustainability of silvopastoral systems in Uruguay (Bussoni)

Bussoni et al.

INIA-UY 100 K 2014-17

Switchgrass and native perennial grasses as bioenergy feedstock in Uruguay

Picasso et al.

CSIC-UY 100 K 2014-17

Facilitation of adoption and development of warm season perennial grasses for Uruguay (Costa, Tejera)

Speranza et al.

ANII-UY 100 K 2013-16

Ecological intensification of Rio de la Plata grasslands (Modernel)

Picasso et al.

ANII-UY 20 K 2013-15

Sustainability indicators for bioenergy in Uruguay Picasso et al.

FAO 50 K 2014-15

Impacts of agriculture irrigation on natural resources in Uruguay (Darre)

Mondelli CAF 30 K 2014-15

Sensitivity and adaptive capacity of agroecosystems in Uruguay to climate change and resilience

Picasso et al.

FAO 100 K 2012-13

Sustainability of agricultural systems in Uruguay (Llanos, Modernel)

Picasso et al.

CSIC-UY 200 K 2012-15

Ecosystem services of forage mixtures with perennial warm season native grasses (Tejera)

Picasso ANII-UY 13 K 2011-13

Sources of funding: UY: Uruguay, ANII: National Agency of Research and Innovation, CSIC: University Commission for Scientific Research, FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations), CAF: Latin American Development Bank, IAI: Inter American Institute for Global Change Research, CNR3: Collaborative Research Network Program.


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Teaching statement Motivation. Teaching is one of the highest priorities in the mission of any public university. I came to UW-Madison because I want to contribute through cutting edge research to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems in sustainability of food production. Teaching is the way to achieve global impact, by training the next generation of people from all over the world who come to UW-Madison: visiting scholars, undergraduates, and graduate students, to become leaders in the field. I am passionate about teaching because I believe I can change the world by inspiring students’ to work on complex food production systems and inviting them to improve our world. I have been teaching university students for more than 20 years, from teaching assistant to main instructor, in the USA and abroad, and I have further grown as a teacher and mentor during my last 5 years at UW-Madison. The year-long Madison Teaching & Learning Excellence Program was instrumental in connecting me with a community of peers practicing effective, efficient, and enjoyable teaching methods. I’ve also had valuable and encouraging feedback from senior faculty and mentors. I am grateful for all these. Classroom teaching. My teaching at UW-Madison includes two full semester undergraduate upper level Agronomy core courses per year: Forage Management and Utilization (Agronomy 302) during the fall semester and Cropping Systems of the Tropics (Agronomy 377) every spring. I have also been responsible for at least one other optional course every year such as: Study Abroad - Mexico (Agronomy 400), Perennial Grain Polycultures Field course (Agronomy 375x), and graduate seminars (Agronomy 920, Agroecology 720). I also have taught modules in the introductory agronomy course (Agronomy 100). I am therefore responsible for a large portion of the agronomy undergraduate curriculum, teaching agronomy courses every semester, averaging 138 contact hours per year over the last 5 years. In a deliberate effort to recruit more students to agronomy and agroecology, I have accepted 14 guest lecture invitations in six other UW-Madison courses. Also, a relevant focus of my teaching efforts relate to international courses in collaboration with other institutions. Students’ evaluations of my courses are consistently very good to excellent (average 4.2-5.0 on a 5-point scale) and every year several students comment “This was one of my favorite classes at UW”. Peer evaluations of teaching also emphasize the effective and positive outcomes of my teaching efforts. My own assessment of student learning also revealed that my teaching methods are effective: students achieve the learning outcomes as demonstrated in their performance in final oral presentations, final written reflections, and team projects. I have also supported and committed academic effort to the development of two new undergraduate majors in our college: Agroecosystems (I consistently contributed in every meeting I was invited), and Global Health (I have contributed to coordinating activities and offer a core course, Agronomy 377, being repurposed and renamed as Global Food Production and Health, with expected enrollment of 200 students in Spring semester 2021).

Mentoring. I see mentoring as an opportunity to individualize and deepen my teaching philosophy with students. I am proud of my large, international, and diverse lab at UW-Madison. Each year I mentor or co-mentor 3-4 MSc and PhD UW-Madison students with whom I meet weekly. I train 3-5 undergraduates per year on different formats, either for credit or as hourly workers. Also, I have mentored visiting scholars from China, Pakistan, Turkey, Nepal, Eritrea, Peru, and Uruguay. In our weekly lab meetings everyone brings questions, gives presentations on research and culture, learns about scientific writing and academia, and shares


22

their local food and culture. During the pandemic, we changed to 15 minute daily check-ins, to maintain communication during these challenging times. These past years at UW-Madison I have learned to mentor a diverse and productive group, and watching students grow, graduate, and make an impact in the world has been my most rewarding experience. Teaching philosophy. I believe teaching is a systematic effort of co-creating a learning environment that fosters students’ ability to improve our world. This is especially relevant for agronomy and agroecology. Therefore, teaching is a planned goal-oriented process that requires time and energy. I have learned that thoughtful preparation before class, focusing on what I want the students to learn is more important than preparing good slides. It is critical to define clear and explicit learning outcomes for the students, so I begin every semester and every class with a statement of these goals. And the outcomes include learning about information and also developing skills and attitudes towards the issues addressed. Students’ personal context, experience, motivations, and questions, are more relevant than my effort. I tell the students “I can’t make you learn, but you can learn”. So, I invest time in leveraging students’ interests, encouraging students’ questions, and discussing them in class.

I believe my role is to create the environment, the conditions for the learning process to happen. I like to use the metaphor of learning as an ecosystem, where the biodiversity of students, with different interests, backgrounds and learning styles, interacts with the environment of the classroom, professor, and the institution. I have a leading role in designing this environment, offering alternative food sources and altering the climate and soil, by means of readings, lectures, labs, field trips, and group discussions. Field trips and international study abroad travel courses are especially suited environments for challenging students’ assumptions and opening their minds to new and deeper questions. I strongly believe in experiential and participatory learning. That’s why I see myself as a co-creator with the students. When students are actively engaged in the process more meaningful learning occurs. In my classes, students participate in many ways, from choosing projects of their interest, to grading their classmates and their own learning. When I give up control and I trust them, they trust me, become responsible for their own learning, and they learn more.

I also have high expectations from my students, and I encourage them to read before class, answer frequent quizzes, write reflections to relate the contents to their own lives, and work on team projects. I understand that it is my responsibility to help them make my class a priority among the many interesting activities they have in their lives; and this requires a portfolio of low stakes and high stakes assessment options: quizzes, exams, written reflections, oral presentations, written papers, and team projects. The more I expect from my students, the more they take advantage of the course, learn, and enjoy. This past year, having to quickly transition from in-person to on-line teaching due to the pandemic, I discovered that this approach is resilient to crisis. Learning happens when students are engaged in a community with clear learning outcomes, diversity of resources and assessments, and a trustworthy environment, even when the interaction is on-line.

My teaching has the ultimate goal of fostering students’ autonomy, so that they can realize their potential to work with other people in improving our world. I strive to provide a learning environment for students to acknowledge their ability to think critically, grow as ethical persons, communicate effectively, and work with others to develop more sustainable


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food systems. Inspiring this learning in students from Wisconsin and all over the world is the essence of my teaching philosophy. Summary of teaching activities

Classroom teaching at University of Wisconsin – Madison

Year Term

Course Course Title & Co-instructor

Cr. Student number

Grades Contact hours

and type Total hours

2015 Fall

Agronomy 100

Principles of Crop Production (W. Tracy)

4 80 NA 5 x 50 min lectures 4

2016 Spring

Agronomy 377

Cropping Systems of the Tropics

3 24 24-A 28 x 75 min lectures 13 hour office hours

49

2016 Fall

Agronomy 100


4 60 NA 11 x 50 min lectures 9

Agronomy 375x

Perennial Grain Polycultures Field Course

1 5 5-A 3 hour lectures + 24 hour field trip

27

Nutr Sci 420

Agriculture & Nutrition in Mexico (S. Tanumihardjo)


63

2017 Spring

Agronomy 377


3 12 10-A 2-AB

28 x 75 min lectures 13 hour office hours

49

Agronomy 920

Graduate Seminar (P. Krysan)

1 12 12-A 13 x 90 min seminars 19

2017 Fall

Agronomy 100


4 60 21-A 19-AB

15-B 5-C 15 x 50 min lectures 13

Agronomy 375x


1 4 4-A

1-AB 3 hour lectures +

3 field trip 27

Nutr Sci 420



63

2018 Spring

Agronomy 377


3 12 9-A

3-AB 28 x 75 min lectures 13 hour office hours

49

2018 Fall

Agronomy 302

Forage Management and Utilization

3 15 4-A

6-AB 5-B

26 x 50 min lectures 6 x 3 hour field trip/lab

13 hour office hours 53

Nutr Sci 420

Agronomy 400



63

Agronomy 375x



27

2019 Spring

Agronomy 377


3 13 10-A 2-AB

1-B 28 x 75 min lectures 13 hour office hours

49

2019 Fall

Agronomy 302

Forage Management and Utilization

3 11 8-A

1-AB 1-B

26 x 50 min lectures 6 x 3 hour field trip/lab

13 h office hours 53

Agronomy 375x



27

2020 Spring

Agronomy 377


3 18 16-A 2-AB

28 x 75 min lectures 13 hour office hours

49


24

2020 Fall

Agroecol 710

Agroecology Seminar (S. Steffan)

1 13 13-A 14 x 50 min seminars 12

Description of courses and role in curriculum development Agronomy 377 - Cropping Systems of the Tropics. After completing the course, students can a) describe, analyze, and understand cropping systems of different regions of the world, b) explain and meaningfully engage in discussions about global issues, food production of major crops, and environmental and socioeconomic impacts of farming systems, c) analyze these issues critically and comparatively using an agroecology framework, and d) thoughtfully engage in international sustainable agriculture issues. This course was originally designed by UW-Madison Agronomy Professor Josh Posner. I have retained much of the philosophy of the course, but have redesigned the contents and activities. We focus on case studies of major cropping systems in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This course serves the dual-purpose of introducing Agronomy to non-major students and broadening perspectives of Agronomy majors on cropping systems outside the USA Midwest. It also introduces agroecology and sustainability analyses for all students. I present short lectures, invite international guest speakers, and connect students with farmers from abroad using on-line videoconference. Farmers from Malawi, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Peru have shared their experience over the years and answered students’ questions directly. Students work in teams preparing oral presentations and written reports on different crops, alternative farming systems, and they assess sustainability indicators of various case studies. They also reflect and write on their relationship with food, the world, and future career interests. I have recently adapted this course to make it a core course for the new Global Health major in CALS, and renamed it to Global Food Production and Health. Agronomy 302 - Forage Management and Utilization. This course is focused on the establishment, management, harvesting and utilization of forage crops for use as hay, pasture and silage, emphasizing cool-season perennial grasses and legumes. It was originally designed by UW-Madison Agronomy Professor Ken Albrecht. The course provides agronomy and dairy/animal science students foundational and applied knowledge on forages, and it is aligned with my research focus. I have kept most of the contents of the course lectures, while adding five field trips to farms and experimental stations, students’ presentations on different forage species, and a team project where students analyze and propose solutions to a problem related to forage production on a working livestock farm they visit during the course. Agronomy 400/ Nutritional Sciences 420 - Linking Agriculture and Nutrition in Mexico Study Abroad. This course involves a one-week summer field trip to the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), and a class meeting during the fall semester. It fulfills the international requirement for Global Health Certificate, and attracts between 15 and 20 students each year. It serves as an introduction to agronomy for non-major students, and offers students an international perspective and an opportunity to visiting a world renowned research center in plant breeding, and the birthplace of the Green Revolution. Although it is not a prerequisite, this course fits very well after students have taken Agronomy 377. Agronomy 375x – Perennial Grain Polycultures Field Trip. This is a one credit course I designed to discuss opportunities and challenges of perennial grain polycultures for sustainable


25

food production. A weekend field trip to The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas in late September is the central learning activity. After completing this course, students can identify the main problems (environmental and socioeconomic) associated with annual grain monocultures, describe the potential solutions and challenges of perennial grain polycultures for agriculture, and discuss one aspect of the research program on perennial grain polycultures. Students prepare a short oral presentation on a topic of their choice, synthesizing information from the field trip and relevant literature. Agronomy 100 - Principles and Practices of Crop Production. This is the introductory mandatory course for all agronomy majors, and serves a key role for other CALS majors. The main instructor is Bill Tracy, but I have offered variable portions of this course (five to 15 lectures, and preparing exam questions). I have taught the following modules: introduction, basic plant compounds and anatomy, grain crops, and forage crops. Agronomy 920/ Horticulture 910 - Graduate Seminar. This graduate seminar involves presentations from graduate students and invited speakers. I was the Agronomy co-instructor Spring 2017, a rotating responsibility among agronomy faculty. We focused on perennialism in crop plants, genetic determinants, physiological mechanisms, ecological consequences, and landscape implications. Agroecology 710 - Agroecology Seminar. This graduate seminar involves presentations from graduate students and invited speakers. I was co-instructor Fall 2020, a rotating responsibility among agroecology faculty. We focused on perspectives on race and agriculture, as part of the social justice response to current events at UW-Madison.

Guest lectures in other UW-Madison courses

Course Course Title & Instructor Cr Year-Term

Class size

Contact hours

Agronomy 203 NutrSci 203

Introduction to Global Health – S. Tanumihardjo

3

16-F ~400 75 min Lecture




20-S ~100 75 min Lecture

Botany 240

Plants and Humans – E. Emshwiller

3





Agronomy 375 A Systems view of Life – M. Jahn 3 17-F ~15 2x75 min Lecture

Dy Sci 875 Effective Teaching in Diverse classrooms (DELTA) – M. Wattiaux

3 18-F ~12 50 min Panel

19-F ~12 50 min Panel

Agronomy 338 Plant Breeding & Biotechnology – L. Gutierrez

3 20-S ~40 50 min Lecture

Agronomy 500 Agronomy Capstone – H. Kaeppler 3 20-S ~20 75 min Lecture


26

International short-courses taught as Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

• Professional Development Seminar: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Integrating Policy and Science for Sustainability. I was coordinating committee member and one of the course instructors of this 2-week international interdisciplinary course over 1 year, funded by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change (IAI). One week was in the Dominican Republic, Nov. 28 – Dec. 3, 2016, and another week in Calgary, Canada, Oct. 3 - 7, 2017.

• Environmental Impacts of Farming Systems. Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Main instructor, graduate course, via videoconference, 5 days over 4 weeks during Spring 2017.

• Perennial Crops for Sustainable Agriculture. Universidad de la República, Uruguay. I was the main instructor of this undergraduate/graduate course. I taught via videoconference 4 days over 2 weeks during Spring 2016.

International guest lectures as Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

• Forages as the basis of Sustainable Production. Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Summer 2020. Instructor: David Silvera. Guest lecture. Undergraduate Agronomy course.

• Agriculture and the Environment. Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Spring 2016. Instructor: Ines Gazzano. I gave a guest lecture in this undergraduate Agronomy course.

• Interdisciplinary Research Methods. Michigan Tech University. Fall 2015. Instructor: Kathy Halvorsen. I gave an invited guest lecture in this graduate course.

Classroom teaching prior to being Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

As Assistant Professor at Universidad de la República, Uruguay:

• Agroecology applied to Farming Systems, graduate, 2009 & 2011, main instructor

• Environmental Impacts of Farming Systems, graduate, 2011, 13-14, main instructor

• Environment, Society, and Farming Systems, graduate, 2011, main instructor

• Scientific Communication using Posters, graduate, 2009, 2010, 2011, main instructor

• Scientific Communication in English, graduate, 2011, main instructor

• Meat Production Systems, graduate, 2013, main instructor

• Forage Production, undergraduate, 2009-2013, team member

• Forage Utilization, undergraduate, 2011 & 2013, team member

• Agroecology (Ecology, Agriculture & Environment), undergraduate, 2013-15, team member As graduate student (teaching assistant) at Iowa State University, USA:

• Sustainable Agriculture in Uruguay Study abroad, 2004 & 2006. C. Brummer & G. Zdorkowski

• Honors Program Seminar – Making difficult decisions, 2006. Sole instructor.

• Honors Program Seminar – Wisdom for a Livable Planet, 2005 with G. Zdorkowski

• Agrotourism (study abroad course), 2005, with C. Flora and M. Chiappe

• Agroecosystems analysis (field course), 2004, with R. Salvador and L. Butler

• World Food Issues, undergraduate level (Agronomy), 2004 with R. Salvador.


27

• Issues in Sustainable Agriculture, undergraduate level (Agronomy), 2003, with R. Salvador.

Mentor teaching Postdoctoral scholars at UW-Madison

Graduate students advised or co-advised at UW-Madison

Candidate Roles: I serve as A= Advisor; C= Co-advisor. Future dates (italics) are expected

PBPG=Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics

Name Dates Country Project Accomplishments

Current position

1 Chenfei Dong 7/2016-6/2017

China Kernza agronomy (NSC analyses)

1 paper, 2 abstracts

Faculty in China

2 Muhammet Sakiroglu 10/2018-7/2019

Turkey Kernza agronomy & Alfalfa resilience

1 paper, 1 abstract

Faculty in Turkey

3 Rachana Poudel 3/2019-5/2019

Nepal Kernza agronomy (yield maintenance)

1 paper in prep.

Food Science Industry

4 Priscila Pinto 11/2020-10/2021

Argentina Kernza agronomy (NIFA-SAS-CAP)

1 paper in prep.

Picasso lab UW

5 Krishna Bhnadari 1/2021-12/2021

Nepal Alfalfa resilience Just hired Picasso lab UW

Name Dates Program Project Role Current position 1 Marisa Lanker 9/2017-

5/2018 MSc

Agroecology Kernza farmers perceptions

C PhD student UW-Madison

2 Jeremie Favre 1/2017-5/2019

MSc Agronomy

Kernza forage nutritive value

A RA at Univ. Bern (Switz.)

3 Joseph Zimbric 5/2017-8/2019

MSc Agronomy

Kernza weed suppression

C UW Extension Educator

4 Sarah Bullock 9/2018-10/2020

MSc PBPG

Resilience and Stability in oat

C Private sector

5 Stefania Cartoni 8/2018-5/2021

MSc Agroecology

Kernza-legume intercropping

A In Progress

6 Olugakorede Olugbenle

6/2019-8/2021

MSc Agroecology

Kernza optimal planting date

A In Progress

7 Dante Pizarro 1/2020-12/2024

PhD Dairy Science

Kernza feed value & silvopasture

C In Progress

8 Erica Shoenberger 9/2020-8/2022

MSc Agroecology

Kernza agronomy A In Progress

9 Soledad Orcasberro

1/2021-12/2025

PhD Agronomy

Alfalfa yield gap, soil health, and grazing

A In progress


28

Other graduate students mentored at UW-Madison Member of committees

Future dates (italics) are expected Delta Program - UW-Madison professional development program for graduate students

and post-docs in teaching, mentoring, outreach and advising

1Project description: https://uwmadison.app.box.com/s/owny02yn96stpniemhyu903zhlhn5l8l Visiting scientists / research interns

I mentored graduate students from other institutions coming to UW-Madison for internships from 3 months to 1 year to conduct research in my lab as part of their graduate training

Graduate students advised at other institutions

Roles: I serve as A= Advisor; C= Co-advisor; M= Committee Member

Name Dates Program Project Role Current position

As Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

1 Juan Errandonea 3/2019-9/2021 MSc UDELAR Resilience forages A In progress 2 Andres Locatelli 3/2018-9/2021 PhD UDELAR Kernza agronomy A In progress 3 Elisa Darre 3/2015-9/2020 PhD UDELAR Ecological intensification A PA UDELAR

Name Defense Date Program Project Current position 1 Omar Santana 12/2018 PhD Dairy Science Forage nutritive value INIFAP-Mexico 2 Tyler Titcomb 5/2019 PhD Nutrition Human nutrition U. Iowa -post-doc 3 Keefe Keeley 2020 PhD Env. Studies Agroforestry systems Savanna Institute 4 Katherine Wells 2022 MSc Dairy Science Stockpile grazing In Progress

Name Date Project Status 1 Christina Kranz 1/2018-5/2018 Student perceptions about on-line quizzes1 Completed

2 Eric Larson 1/2018-5/2019 Teaching Plant Path module in Agron 377 Completed 3 Raquel Carvalho 1/2021-5/2021 Teaching livestock/environment Agron377 In progress

Name Dates Country Project

1 Nicolas Costa 6/2016-9/2016 Uruguay Kernza agronomy 2 Xu Zhang 1/2017-12/2017 China Kernza agronomy 3 Eduardo Llanos 8/2017-11/2017 Venezuela Ecological intensification 4 Valentina Infante 2/2017-11/2017 Chile Kernza field and lab 5 Andres Locatelli 5/2018-9/2018 Uruguay Kernza vernalization 6 Dante Pizarro 10/2018-12/2018 Peru Agroforestry systems 7 Abdul Mannan 1/2019-6/2019 Pakistan Resilience in alfalfa 8 Jaris Veneros 1/2019-3/2019 Peru Kernza ecology 9 Juan Errandonea 9/2018-12/2018 Uruguay Kernza agronomy

https://uwmadison.app.box.com/s/owny02yn96stpniemhyu903zhlhn5l8l


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4 Eduardo Llanos 3/2015-10/2020 PhD UDELAR Ecological intensification A RA UDELAR 5 Pablo Modernel 3/2015-9/2019 PhD WUR Ecological intensification C Private sector 6 Nicolas Costa 3/2015-3/2018 MSc UDELAR Resilience forages A Ministry Ag, Uy

Before being Assistant Professor at UW-Madison

1 Eduardo Llanos 2009-2011 MSc UDELAR Energy efficiency dairy A RA UDELAR 2 Pablo Modernel 2009-2011 MSc UDELAR Carbon footprint beef A Post-doc WUR 3 Gonzalo Becona 2010-2012 MSc UDELAR Carbon footprint beef A Ministry Ag, Uy 4 Carolina Lizarralde 2010-2013 MSc UDELAR Carbon footprint dairy C PhD student NZ 5 Mauricio Tejera 2011-2014 MSc UDELAR C4 forage mixtures A Post-doc ISU 6 Mariana Boscana 2016-2019 MSc UDELAR Silvopastoral systems M Ministry Ag, Uy 7 Monica Urrutia 2015-2018 MSc UDELAR Arthropods & grazing C Ag agent, Uy 8 Kate Williman 2015-2016 MSc SRC Resilience and trade M NZ Ministry Env. 9 Jose Nasca 2012-2016 PhD UBA Systems modeling beef M Researcher INTA 10 Adriana Bussoni 2013-2020 PhD UDELAR Silvopastural systems C Faculty UDELAR 11 Guadalupe Tiscornia 2014-2019 PhD UDELAR Grasslands resilience M Researcher INIA

WUR= Wageningen University and Research Center (The Netherlands), SRC= Stockholm Resilience Center (Sweden), ISU= Iowa State University, UDELAR = Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay), UBA= Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), INIA= National Agriculture Research Institute (Uruguay), INTA=National Agriculture Technology Institute (Argentina), PA= Project Assistant, RA=Research Assistant, Faculty=tenure-track faculty, Uy= Uruguay, NZ=New Zealand

Undergraduate students advised at UW-Madison

Name Semesters Format/Course Credits Project

1 Kyle Rentmeester F15 - S16 InterLS 250 2 Kernza agronomy 2 Carly Smetana F15 - S16 InterLS 250 2 Kernza agronomy 3 Joel Cryer Su16 - Su19 Hourly NA Kernza agronomy 4 Zainah Masri F16- S17 InterLS 250 2 Kernza seed study 5 Kim Asseily F16- S17 InterLS 250 2 Forage nutritive value 6 Emily Rau F16- S17 InterLS 250 2 Kernza agronomy 7 Michaela Taddeini F17 Bio 152 2 Kernza Vernalization 8 Isabella Huizar F17-S18 InterLS 250 2 Forage nutritive value 9 Dominique Barthel F17 Agron 299 1 Kernza agronomy 10 Patricia Ryou F17-S18 InterLS 250 2 Kernza root study 11 Michael O’donnel S18-F18 Agron 299 2 Kernza agronomy 12 Vishnu Yarlagadda F18-S19 InterLS 250 2 Kernza seed study 13 Selma Fairach F18-S19 InterLS 250 2 Forage nutritive value 14 Ian McCormick F18 Agron 299 1 Kernza harvest timing 15 Tuongvi Bui F19 Chancellor Scholar - Mentor for scholarship 16 Kongmeng Xiong Su20 Agron 399 2 Kernza seed study


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Outreach/Extension statement

Although I do not have an Extension appointment, I am committed to the “Wisconsin Idea” that everything we do at the University should serve the people of Wisconsin and the world. My understanding of Extension goes far beyond “extending” the knowledge from research to farmers and society in general. I believe that high quality and relevant research starts from asking questions that address problems that farmers and other social groups bring to the University. So, the first step for a successful and relevant research program is to make good connections with multiple stakeholders (farmers, industry, government agencies, NGOs), and listening to the questions and problems raise by these groups. To that purpose since I arrived to Wisconsin, I have participated and presented in several events like UW Team Forage, Grassworks, Midwest Forage Association, Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Citizen Council, Agricultural Research Station Field days (Arlington, Lancaster, West Madison), Farmer Led Producer workshops from DATCP, Driftless grazing workshops, Practical Farmers of Iowa, OGRAIN, and others. Out of these meetings there are always fruitful connections that evolve into demonstration or research projects on farmers’ fields, and collaborative grant proposals (SARE, NIFA, NAFA, MFA, CIAS). I also strive to remain connected with UW Extension faculty, staff, and county agents, who are essential to keeping these interactions over the long term. Furthermore, one of my first MSc students devoted her research to study pioneer Kernza farmers and document perceptions on motivations, challenges, and knowledge gaps which informed directly my research program on Kernza Agronomy. When I arrived to UW-Madison in 2015, neither Kernza research, nor Kernza growers existed in the state. By 2019, Wisconsin was the second state in number of Kernza growers, and fourth state in area of commercial Kernza (Source: Kernza.org). Developing a new crop like Kernza requires close collaboration with farmers and industry. We are designing not only a revolutionary crop, but a new cropping system, and a new supply chain, where lots of knowledge gaps in terms of agronomic practices, marketing, logistics, and economics exist. Our research has answered several agronomic questions that provided management recommendations to Kernza farmers and researchers. I have cultivated relationships with many farmers in Wisconsin, and I am very grateful for their willingness to take risks, plant Kernza in their farms, discuss ideas and share their practical knowledge, write letters of support for projects, and contribute to the development of Kernza in Wisconsin. Furthermore, local business partners like Driftless Brewery, Meadowlark Organics, and Madison Sourdough have been essential to this process. Also, I have connected with farmers in other Midwestern states (IL, IA, MN, SD) to contribute to the rapid Kernza expansion to these other states. I was part of the team who wrote and published the first Kernza growers guide synthesizing the current knowledge about Kernza production for farmers, based on our research results (DeHaan et al., 2019). I have also contributed with information and convened meetings with the Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop guidelines for including perennial dual-purpose grain crops within the approved conservation practices in Wisconsin, allowing farmers to receive payments for this. My team hosted the IV International Kernza meeting in Madison, brining attention and more collaborators to become partners in the state. I have also cultivated strong relationships with the forage industry. My research in alfalfa resilience to climate change is in collaboration with the three major alfalfa seed companies (Forage Genetics


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International, Corteva, S&W) who have shared seed, discussed the project ideas and results. This also led to new research projects later funded by Midwest Forage Association and the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance (check-off program) to study the yield gap in alfalfa. My research on ecological intensification of beef and dairy systems has also contributed to inform farmers and policy makers abroad. The results of our research has been presented to the Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the National Meat institute, and National Dairy Institute, and informed public policies on livestock production on native grasslands and adaptation to climate change. The proposed project on Silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian Amazon region also intends to inform the government on optimal practices to adapt to climate change and protect this fragile ecosystem. I have also been approached for international consulting with the private sector (Danish Company Ingleby) to assess carbon balance of livestock farms. Transdisciplinary research is a dynamic research process where multiple disciplines and multiple stakeholders come together to frame relevant problems, ask critical questions, and develop science-based solutions, that can be implemented by farmers, industry, and policy makers because everyone is involved in the process from the beginning. This is the approach I take for all my research, and is the core of my extension and outreach efforts. I also have devoted efforts to have an updated webpage, and contribute to social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter) with activities and publications from my lab.

Outreach Publications

1. Picasso, V. 2020. Closing the alfalfa yield gap and increasing resilience to climate change. Research update. Forage Focus. P. 8. Midwest Forage Association. August 2020.

2. Picasso, V.; Undersander, D. 2019. Dataset: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars mean annual forage yield (US Ton ac-1) from Northeast USA and Ontario (Canada) from 1995 to 2013. Ag Data Commons. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1504130. Accessed 2020-02-13.

3. DeHaan, L.; J. Favre; F. Forcella; J. M. Jungers; V. Picasso; A. Reser. 2019. Approaches to Managing Intermediate Wheatgrass for Dual-Use Forage and Kernza® Perennial Grain Production. Green Lands Blue Waters. Available on line at www.kernza.org

4. Favre, J. and Picasso, V. 2018. Forage yield and nutritive value of perennial grain Kernza grown in monoculture and intercropped with red clover. Forage Focus. August 2018, p. 20. Midwest Forage Association

5. Picasso, V. 2016. Dual purpose perennial forage and grain Kernza. Research update. Forage Focus. Midwest Forage Association. November 2016.

6. Picasso, V. 2016. Changing climate brings new opportunities and challenges for increasing forage and pasture production in the Midwest. Forage Focus. Midwest Forage Association. March 2016, p. 7.

http://www.kernza.org/


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Interviews and News coverage UW Extension. 2020. The Cutting Edge: A Podcast in Search of New Crops for Wisconsin.

Episode 4: Kernza. Interviewing V. Picasso and C. Cureton. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/grain/cutting-edge/

AGRIVIEW. By Lynn Grooms. Kernza perennial grain being tested for cattle. Jul 25, 2019. https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/crop/kernza-perennial-grain-being-tested-for-cattle/article_5d3beb37-9276-5ee0-a940-24c53f8e5a7f.html

The Country Today. By Brooke Bechen. Fourth international Kernza conference held in Madison. Jul 8, 2019. https://www.leadertelegram.com/country-today/farm/country-options/fourth-international-kernza-conference-held-in-madison/article_ebfc1a8e-83df-5f94-80a1-65257fa6bf77.html

Poynette Press. By Brian Sheridan. Farmers, researchers discuss latest findings on world’s first perennial grain crop. July 9 2019. https://www.hngnews.com/poynette_press/article_547f76f9-1988-5936-8b4a-7ff03e9c064b.html

The Mid-West Farm Report by Pam Jahnke. 2018. Kernza could hold some options. Blog. https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2018/05/29/kernza-could-hold-some-options/

UW_Madison News. By David Tenenbaum. Fine-tuning a new crop that saves soil, produces grain and forage for cows. May 24, 2018 https://news.wisc.edu/fine-tuning-a-new-crop-that-saves-soil-produces-grain-and-forage-for-cows/

The Mid-West Farm Report. 2018. Forages Week. Interview to V. Picasso by Jenna Lee. June 22, 2018.

AGRIVIEW. By Lynn Grooms. Dual-purpose Kernza grabs attention. Jul 28, 2017 https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/business/dual-purpose-kernza-grabs-attention/article_6ab3de09-b9fb-5716-a71c-7e371278d92b.html

UW Extension. News. By Steve Kenyon. Kernza grain – a perennial grain and forage crop with multiple uses. Podcast interview to V. Picasso. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/news/2017/05/05/kernza-grain-a-perennial-gran-and-forage-crop-with-multiple-uses/

Kenyon, S. and B. Vincent. 2017. Kernza: Perennial Crop with Perks. Agricultural systems have a major role to play in feeding the world while protecting the planet, and Valentin Picasso looks to new crops and new techniques that can further this monumental task. UW-Madison CALS. Grow Magazine. https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/living-science/kernza-perennial-crop-with-perks

Outreach presentations

1. Kernza: A perennial grain and forage crop for watershed conservation in Wisconsin.

Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants Annual Workshop – DATCP, Stevens Point, WI. February 19, 2020

2. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as an alternative small grain for organic systems. OGRAIN Conference. Madison, WI, USA. January 24-25, 2020.

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/grain/cutting-edge/

https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/crop/kernza-perennial-grain-being-tested-for-cattle/article_5d3beb37-9276-5ee0-a940-24c53f8e5a7f.html

https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/crop/kernza-perennial-grain-being-tested-for-cattle/article_5d3beb37-9276-5ee0-a940-24c53f8e5a7f.html

https://www.leadertelegram.com/country-today/farm/country-options/fourth-international-kernza-conference-held-in-madison/article_ebfc1a8e-83df-5f94-80a1-65257fa6bf77.html



https://www.hngnews.com/poynette_press/article_547f76f9-1988-5936-8b4a-7ff03e9c064b.html

https://www.hngnews.com/poynette_press/article_547f76f9-1988-5936-8b4a-7ff03e9c064b.html

https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2018/05/29/kernza-could-hold-some-options/

https://news.wisc.edu/fine-tuning-a-new-crop-that-saves-soil-produces-grain-and-forage-for-cows/

https://news.wisc.edu/fine-tuning-a-new-crop-that-saves-soil-produces-grain-and-forage-for-cows/

https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/business/dual-purpose-kernza-grabs-attention/article_6ab3de09-b9fb-5716-a71c-7e371278d92b.html

https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/business/dual-purpose-kernza-grabs-attention/article_6ab3de09-b9fb-5716-a71c-7e371278d92b.html

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/news/2017/05/05/kernza-grain-a-perennial-gran-and-forage-crop-with-multiple-uses/

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/news/2017/05/05/kernza-grain-a-perennial-gran-and-forage-crop-with-multiple-uses/

https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/living-science/kernza-perennial-crop-with-perks

https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/living-science/kernza-perennial-crop-with-perks


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4. Kernza perennial grain: A new opportunity for Wisconsin farmers. Agronomy/Soils field day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA. August 28, 2019.

5. Kernza Intermediate wheatgrass grazing research. Kernza and Silvopasture Field Day. Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA. October 5 2018.


7. Intermediate wheatgrass intercropped with legumes. Agronomy/Soils field day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA, August 22, 2018.

8. Kernza intermediate wheatgrass. Small grains twilight meeting. Buffalo County field day. Alma, WI, USA, July 19, 2018.

9. Forage and perennial grains research in Wisconsin. UW-Danish Organic Dairy Farmer Exchange. University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus. May 29, 2018

10. Agriculture, Environment, & Health. UW-Madison One Health Forum, Madison, WI, USA. October 20, 2017.


12. Intermediate wheatgrass for forage and grain. Agronomy/Soils field day. Arlington Agricultural Research Station, WI, USA, August 30, 2017.

13. Kernza Intermediate wheatgrass: A new dual-purpose, perennial grain for Wisconsin farmers. Kernza, Cover Crops and Conservation Field Day. Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, WI. July 19 2017.

14. The last supper talk: Sustainability and resiliency from perennial forage systems. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, UW-Madison, Citizen Advisory Council, Madison, WI, USA. January 19, 2017.

15. A greener future: Sustainability, resiliency and ecosystem services through forages. USDA Dairy Forage Research Center, Mission Area Community Discussions. Madison, WI, USA. January 18, 2017.

16. Resilience of forage production in Wisconsin. Driftless region grazing workshop. Marshfield, WI, USA. Sept 13, 2016.

17. Environmental impacts of livestock systems in Uruguay. Animal Breeding and Genetics Seminar UW-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. October 4, 2016.

18. Forages and grazing for Wisconsin and for the world. Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting, Madison, WI, USA. December 1st, 2015.

19. Grazing perennial forages, climate change, and resilience. Driftless region grazing conference, Dodgeville, WI, USA. December 1st, 2015.


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Service statement One of the valuable core traditions of the University of Wisconsin is shared governance, where university activities and policies are discussed and decided through a democratic process. Faculty, staff, and to some extent students are involved, provide initiative, input, and vote on outcomes. Coming from the Universidad de la República, Uruguay, where shared governance is also a tradition, I feel not only a responsibility to participate, but I believe it is a natural thing for me to do. Service to departmental, college, and university committees is another side of the coin of having a shared governance system, and it is essential to the healthy functioning of the university, in making needed changes for improving the system. My understanding of the democratic process involves being informed about the breadth of the issues being discussed, asking questions, being an active and respectful listener, providing feedback, and voting in all instances in which I can participate. Therefore, I invest time preparing and actively engaging in discussions in all committees I am involved. Over these past five years, I have served on five committees in the Department of Agronomy, two committees in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), and the Faculty Senate of the university. I also believe that being in a leadership position means committing to serve everyone and working for the common good, not solely for my group or for personal gain. After serving for seven years as Director of Graduate Studies, and then Director of the Department of Environmental Systems in the College of Agriculture of Universidad de la República, Uruguay, I learned a great deal about academic policy processes, negotiation, and the time, work, and patience required for institutional change. I have applied this experience to relevant institutional changes in our college, including the creation of two new majors (Global Health, just launched, and Agroecosystems, in progress) and a discussion involving the creation of a new department involving agronomy, horticulture, and other related fields (also in progress). Another important area of service has been my active participation in departmental discussions promoting diversity and inclusion, and improving the social climate for minorities (see 11.D below). In terms of professional service, I have actively contributed to several agriculture journals as reviewer, and recently served as Editor of special issues for the journal Agronomy, as well as participating in the annual meetings of my professional societies Crop Science Society (CSSA) and Agronomy Society of America (ASA). I have been involved with a number of academic communities both as host and as active learner through the interaction with senior colleagues. First, I am an active member of the Perennial Grains community at the ASA, the Kernza annual meetings (which I hosted in Madison in 2019) and the Silphium meetings. Second, I am actively involved in the forages community, both the Forages and Grazinglands (C6) at the CSSA and the North Central Coordinating Committee on Ecophysiology of Forages (NCCC-31), which I hosted in Madison also in 2019. Finally, I participate also in the Agronomy Global Section and Sustainable Intensification community at the ASA. I have been nominated by peers to serve as vice-chair of these societies’ communities and sections, but had declined based on mentors’ advice to focus on my research and students during this pre-tenure time. I hope to serve on these important activities in the near future.


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I have also been invited to serve on boards and advisory councils for several organizations including Green Lands Blue Waters, UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, and The Savanna Institute. Through my involvement with these groups, I have supported actions towards increasing the use of perennial forages, perennial grains, and grazing across the landscape, as well as developed long term collaborations with leading organizations in these fields.

University Service Department of Agronomy 2015-present Curriculum Committee 2016-19 Field Day Committee 2016 Self-study Committee for the Ten-year Review of the Agronomy Undergraduate

and Graduate Academic Programs 2016 Hatch Capital Exercise Committee 2018-19 Agronomy Five-year Strategic Plan – Goal 2 (Academic Programs) committee 2020 Forage agroecologist extension position – Search Committee College of Agricultural and Life Sciences 2019-21 Agricultural Research Stations Committee 2019-20 Global Health Major working group 2020 Global Health Advising Hub Manager Search Committee 2020 Agroecosystem Major Transdisciplinary Core working group 2020-22 Global Health Governance Committee University 2017-19 Dept. of Agronomy delegate to the Faculty Senate

Professional Service Advisory Boards (by invitation)

• Advisory group on Climate Change for Green Lands, Blue Waters (2016).

• Ecospheric Studies group, The Land Institute (since 2016)

• UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Citizen Advisory Council (since 2017).

• Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDF) Steering Committee (since 2017).

• Advisory Board of The Savanna Institute (since 2017).

• Carbon Footprint working group of Latin American Animal Science (ALPA) Reviewer of refereed Journals

• Crop Science


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• Agronomy Journal

• Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management

• Agricultural Systems

• Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment

• BioScience

• Ecology and Society

• BioEnergy Research

• Geoderma

• Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems

• Weed Research

• Regional Environmental Change

• Grass and Forage Science

• Agrociencia (Uruguay)

• Archivos de ALPA Editorial duties

• Agronomy (MDPI) Impact Factor 2.603 (2019) based on Journal Citation Reports®, ranking in Q1 (18 of 91) in the Agronomy category.

• Editor of special issue of Agronomy on “Multifunctional Forages” (2020)

• Editor of special issue of Agronomy on “Increasing Resilience in Agricultural Systems” (2021)

• Agrociencia (Uruguay) – Associate Editor Reviewer of grants

• Ohio State University - Internal Grant Program reviewer.

• USDA FY 2020 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Educational Program: invited to review grants from this program but declined due to COVID-19 restrictions for travel.

• University of Wisconsin – Hatch grant program 2019

• ANII (National Agency for Research and Innovation) Uruguay – reviewer of several grant programs including Agro-environmental platforms (2018), Applied research (2017), Fundamental research (2017), and Posdoctoral program (2017)

ASA-CSSA-SSSA Nominated Vice-Chair of Global Agronomy section (2021) – accepted, election pending Nominated Vice-Chair of Global Agronomy section (2020) – accepted, not elected Nominated Board member representative Global Agronomy section (2020) - declined Nominated as Vice Chair of Sustainable Intensification community (2016) - declined Nominated as Vice Chair of Perennial grains community (2016) - declined CSSA – Division C03 – Poster judge Meetings 2015 (Phoenix, AZ) Golden Opportunity Scholar Mentor Meetings 2015 (Phoenix, AZ)


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Efforts to promote inclusion and diversity Diversity provides strength, creativity, productivity, and resilience at all levels of organization. Genetic diversity makes crops more resistant to diseases, crop species diversity increases productivity and stability in agroecosystems, cropping systems diversity provides ecosystems services and resilience to climate change. It should be no surprise then that human diversity improves quality and functioning of any social organization, including research groups, Departments, Colleges, and Universities. I came to the University of Wisconsin with the goal of serving all people from Wisconsin and from the world. I truly believe that each person’s “identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community”. However, I realize that our university is not as much a “welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background” as it aspires to be. Despite best intentions and hard work, we still have significant inequalities and biases regarding gender, race, sexual orientation, and national origin. So, I have invested a lot of thinking, time, and effort towards addressing those challenges and fostering positive change. First, I am proud to have built one of the most diverse and inclusive research groups in the Department, having recruited talented undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, academic staff, and visiting scholars who identify themselves as male, female, black, indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and come from more than 15 countries from all continents, as well as from many places in Wisconsin. I understand well that recruiting diversity is not enough, so I spend time building community, encouraging a diversity of opinions and ideas, and celebrating diversity of cultures and food at our lab meetings to make our lab more inclusive. I also have regular weekly meetings with my graduate students to provide support and answer questions they may have navigating graduate school life. During the COVID pandemic we started meeting as a lab for 15 minutes every day, to maintain communication between lab members and reduce anxiety during these challenging times. Second, I have participated and encouraged my team to participate in various programs to foster diversity and inclusion. For instance, I participated in training workshops on implicit bias and diversity at the Department, College, and University level. I have contributed with presentations to incoming students from Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). I have mentored international students from Undergraduate Research Scholars to introduce students to research. I have been mentor in the Science and Medicine Graduate Scholars program, a fellowship program for underrepresented graduate students in the biological sciences. I have also served as mentor in the Chancellor’s Scholarships Program, a four-year merit-based scholarship that attracts, supports, and develops the potential of academically talented and outstanding individuals from underrepresented populations. I am also a mentor for MOSAIC, an initiative of Plant Sciences students at UW-Madison to promote diversity and inclusion. Third, in my classroom teaching I emphasize the values of respect and diversity, and I provide students multiple opportunities to discuss in small groups and work on team projects, with an intentional effort to improve respect, communication and inclusion. I frequently invite


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international guest speakers to broaden students’ perspectives. This fall semester I will co-lead the Agroecology Seminar, where we will focus on perspectives on race and agriculture, as part of the anti-racism response which students initiated at UW-Madison. I have consistently collaborated opening my classroom to UW-Madison research on interventions to promote diversity in classroom (led by Markus Brauer, Dept. of Psychology). Finally, I have been an advocate for increasing diversity and inclusion in our Department and College, and contributed ideas and actions to recruit faculty, staff, and students from minorities.

Documents

Valentin D. Picasso