We’re excited to announce that Hugo has joined Carapace Biopolymers as our new Plant Biologist, Seed Coatings and Crop Resilience.

Hugo’s path in agriculture started close to the ground. He trained in crop production and agronomy, then worked with farms and biotech companies across Latin America, connecting agricultural research with practical crop production needs.

At Ohio State University, he worked on plant disease diagnostics and disease management strategies. He went on to earn an MSc and a PhD at Colorado State University, studying plant, soil and microbial interactions with a focus on nutrient availability and conducting trials with agritech companies. These experiences built his understanding of how plants access nutrients, interact with microbes and respond to disease.

In the Netherlands, Hugo led industry-academic research at Leiden University on microbial solutions for drought resilience. After completing the entrepreneurship program at PLNT Leiden, he co-founded Resilient Bio as Head of Research, shaping the R&D roadmap for microbial seed technologies.

At Carapace, Hugo will lead plant research and validation to guide the development of our bio-based, biodegradable seed coatings. His work will help us understand product performance, identify opportunities for improvement and make informed development decisions. He’ll also draw on his expertise in plant–microbe interactions to explore how our coatings can work best with beneficial microbes.

When he’s not in the lab or the field, Hugo runs ultramarathons, so he’s no stranger to going the distance. 🏃‍♂️