Jorge SOFIA

Jorge Sofia earned his PhD in Biosciences while working as an agronomist. Currently working at the Portuguese “National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research –National Wine Station (INIAV/EVN)” as a researcher in grapevine Phytopathology and also as responsible for the grapevine farm where it’s included in the National Ampelographic Collection.
Previously worked as a senior official at the “Center Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Fisheries” of the “Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture and Sea”, in phytopathology related areas, such as responsible for the local agricultural pest warning system for major crops (grapevine, olive, apple, pear, potato, citrus and chestnut); as phytosanitary inspector accompanying EU plant pest quarantine programs (prospection, identification of quarantines and RNQPs, and its report to EUROPHYT); and as responsible for nursery certification (at phytosanitary and quality levels).
Privately, he has pursued a career as a researcher, being an integrated researcher at CERNAS (Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu) and collaborator at CEF (Center for Functional Ecology of the University of Coimbra). Grapevine diseases and pests, specifically grapevine trunk diseases, have been the main focus of his research work. Participant in the International Council on Grapevine Trunk Diseases.
As an agronomist, he has been responsible for planning and supporting phytopharmaceutical product field trials, as well as providing advice to wine-growing farms.

My involvement in the IOBC-WPRS began after the meeting in Vila Real, Portugal in 2019.