Horacio Aguirre-Villegas

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas serves as a Researcher in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from the same institution, along with an M.S. in Industrial Management from Universidad Ramón Llull and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Católica Boliviana.

His research focuses on evaluating the sustainability of agricultural systems through life cycle assessment (LCA), particularly in bio-energy integration, waste management, and climate change mitigation. Key projects include the USDA-NIFA-funded Sustainable Dairy Project (Dairy CAP), where he contributes to LCA and extension efforts aimed at reducing dairy production's environmental footprint. He has also pioneered small-scale anaerobic digestion systems in Bolivia for biogas production.

Dr. Aguirre-Villegas has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and extension reports, emphasizing manure management, bioenergy systems, and supply chain sustainability. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving nutrient recovery from organic waste.

• Awards: 2018 Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award (ASABE) for extension publications.
• Grants: Principal investigator in Dairy CAP project, collaborating with USDA-NIFA and industry partners.
• Labs/Teams: Lead researcher in UW-Madison's Sustainable Dairy Initiative and collaborative international projects in Bolivia.