Mr de Castro, a national of Uruguay, graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the University of the Republic of Uruguay; he holds an M.Sc. in Animal Parasitology and a Ph.D. in Parasitology from the University College of North Wales, United Kingdom. From 1975 to 1979, Mr de Castro performed veterinary practice in Uruguay. In 1979, he became Scholar at the Rotary Foundation in Bangor, United Kingdom. In 1981, he obtained an FAO “André Mayer” fellowship as Researcher on the impact of ticks on cattle in Kenya. From 1983 to 1988, he was Research Scientist in the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya. Mr de Castro joined FAO in 1988 as Tick Ecologist/Team Leader of the Project ‘Tick Survey’ in Ethiopia. From 1990 to 1993, he was Chief Technical Adviser of the project ‘Strategic Tick Control’ in Zambia. In 1993, he was appointed Animal Health Officer in the Animal Production and Health Division at Headquarters. From 1996 to June 2001, he was Animal Production and Health Officer in the Subregional Office for Southern and East Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe. In 2001, he was appointed FAO Representative in Bolivia. Since August 2006, he has been Senior Officer, Animal Production and Health Division at Headquarters. Mr J.J. de Castro succeeds Ms María José de Oliveira Zimmermann as FAO Representative in Mozambique.