WASHINGTON, DC, US — The US Grains Council (USGC) has named Carlos Suarez its new manager of sustainability, policy and innovation with the organization’s trade policy and biotechnology department in Washington, DC, the USGC announced Aug. 12.

Suarez, who has served as Latin America regional ethanol consultant for the USGC, will implement and oversee the USGC’s sustainability initiatives, including the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP). He also will work closely with the trade policy director to develop and implement programs focused on trade policy and market issues including biotechnology, gene editing and maximum residue levels.

“Carlos has proven his capabilities with the Council through his work with our Latin American team,” said Andrew Brandt, USGC director of trade policy. “We’re very excited for him to take on this new role in which he will be working to ensure sustainability policies that are popping up around the world work for US grain farmers.”

During Suarez’s time with the USGC’s Latin America office, he worked with public and private stakeholders across the region to help them achieve policy goals and promote the benefits and comparative advantages of US ethanol.

Prior to joining the USGC in 2019, Suarez worked for the Nature Conservancy as the associate director for business development in Latin America and US Commercial Service in Colombia. Suarez holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Universidad del Rosario in Colombia; a master’s degree in global risk management from Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Spain; and a master’s degree in business administration from HEC Montreal Business School in Canada.

Suarez enters the new position following Jack Custard’s transition to the global programs department and Imby Abath’s departure from the USGC.