Silverio García Lara

Dr. Silverio García Lara is a Research Professor at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM), Campus Monterrey, with postdoctoral experience at the University of Ottawa and CIMMYT. He is a Level 3 member of Mexico's National System of Researchers (SNI) and a regular member of the Mexican Academy of Science. His research integrates agricultural biotechnology, food security, and maize biofortification, supported by grants from FEMSA, CONACYT, USDA, and international agencies.

Research Focus: Dr. García-Lara investigates molecular breeding, plant tissue culture, and bioactive compounds in maize. His work targets:

• Enhancing nutraceutical properties of crops
• Developing insect/pathogen-resistant maize varieties
• Optimizing traditional food processing (e.g., nixtamalization)
• Exploring anticancer applications of maize-derived peptides

Publication Trends: Recent articles (2022-2025) emphasize metabolic engineering of maize for elevated antioxidants, proteins, and stress resilience, alongside biomedical applications of plant-derived compounds. Recurrent themes include phenolic acids, zein hydrolysates, and sustainable grain storage.

Awards & Honors:

• Teaching and Research Award, Tec de Monterrey (2012)
• Sustainable Food Security Research Award, ITESM (2016)
• Maize Improvement Research Award, PCCMCA (2007)
• Mexican Researcher Certification Level 3 (SNI)

Academic Activities: He teaches advanced agro-biotechnology courses and supervises doctoral research. Funding sources include international collaborations (CIDA-CANADA, CIMMYT) and industry partnerships (Kelloggs, GrainPro).