Marc is senior biotechnologist at the International Potato Center (CIP) with four leadership roles. First, as a biotechnology advisor, he counsel senior management on policy and regulatory issues related to biotechnology and intellectual property rights; organize international, regional, and national courses, seminars, and conferences; participate actively to the development of biosafety regulations in Peru. Secondly he is a project leader of technology-oriented research with multiple partners in developed and developing countries; entertain donor and funding agency relationships; manage budgets of significant sizes; develop grant proposals; produce technical reports. Thirdly, he is a plant molecular biologist who characterizes and uses genomic resources and molecular markers to study the genetic diversity of ex-situ collections of root and tuber crops; identify QTL of significant importance for gene discovery; produce genetically engineered potato and sweetpotato with resistance to insect pests, viruses, late blight, and quality traits. Lastly, he is a research facility manager who established the Applied Biotechnology Laboratory with a suite of facilities to apply molecular and cellular techniques for genetic analyses and crop improvements; supervise training of national and international students and professionals.

Marc is originally from Belgium where he graduated from the University of Brussels first as an Agronomist and then with a PhD in Gene and Cell biotechnology in 1992. He joined then the International Potato Center (CIP) where he spent over 16 years at headquarters in Peru and was recently relocated at its regional office in Kenya. Since then, he is an active member of the ILRI-BecA where he is establishing two genetic transformation projects, one aiming at the production of weevil resistant sweetpotato and the other at potato late blight resistance. He is looking forward to GM product development as well as building capacities in biotechnology and biosafety in Sub Saharan Africa.