Dr. Hans-Jörg Lutzeyer, studied agricultural sciences at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1991. From 1993 to 1997 he worked at the Council of Tropical and Sub-tropical agricultural research in Bonn, Germany. From 1997 to 1998 he was at the EU-office of the German Science Ministry (BMBF). From 1999 to 2001 he was seconded to the European Commission as Executive Secretary of the European Initiative of Agricultural Research for Development. Since October 2001 he is scientific officer at the European Commission, currently at DG Research, Directorate E (Biotechnologies, Agriculture, Food), responsible for research linked to agricultural policy, the European Innovation Partnership and European research co-ordination in the context of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research.