Paolo De Castro

Paolo De Castro
Minister of Agriculture
In office
17 May 2006 – 8 May 2008
Prime Minister Romano Prodi
Preceded by Gianni Alemanno
Succeeded by Luca Zaia
In office
21 October 1998 – 25 April 2000
Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema
Preceded by Michele Pinto
Succeeded by Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio
Personal details
Born 2 February 1958
San Pietro Vernotico, Italy
Political party Democratic Party
Alma mater University of Bologna

Paolo De Castro (born 2 February 1958) is an Italian politician, and former Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies. In 2009 he was elected to the European Parliament, and currently serves as chair of the parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

He has also served as professor of Agricultural Economics at the Veterinary Medicine University of Bologna. He is married and has two sons.

Biography

Born in San Pietro Vernotico, Apulia, in 1980 he graduated at Bologna getting the maximum mark in Agricultural Science.

From January 2001 to May 2004 the Minister chaired the "Nomisma" Economics' Studies Institute. He also chaired the Qualivita Foundation and currently runs the International Agricultural Policy Magazine edited by the Informatore Agrario in Verona. He is professor at the Agriculture Academy of Bologna, the Georgofili Agricultural Economics Academy of Florence, the Agriculture Academy of Pesaro and the National Academy of Treja. From 1996 to 1998 he was economic advisor of Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Economic Advisor of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Michele Pinto. Since 1 June to 31 December 2000 he was appointed as special Advisor of the EU Commission's President. From 21 October 1998 to 25 April 2000 he served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Policies in both Governments chaired by Massimo D'Alema. On November 2000, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi awarded him the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce al merito della Repubblica Italiana"merit honour. He is scientific coordinator of the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Paris, and scientific Director of the Genio Rurale Magazine: a magazine on goods evaluation and territory science of Edagricole. He is also member of the Italian Agricultural Economists' Society (SIDEA) and of the European Agricultural Economics Association (EAEA).

Candidate at the Political Elections held from 9 to 10 April 2006 in Apulia in the Olive Tree list, he was elected in the XV Legislature. In May 2006 he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies in the Government chaired by Romano Prodi.

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Gianni Alemanno		 Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies
2006–2008 		Succeeded by
Luca Zaia