Dr. Carlos Colinas

Dr. Colinas did his Ph.D. studies at Oregon State University, and in 1992 began work as a professor in the department of Crop and Forest Sciences at the University of Lleida in Catalonia, Spain. Among many projects involving forest health of cork oak and chestnuts, and a broad focus on the economic contribution of wild forest mushrooms on rural economies, he has also established one of the world’s preeminent truffle research and education programs. His contributions to Spain’s truffle cultivation industry include developing the ‘gold standard’ of truffle tree seedling quality evaluation systems, which serves as the principal basis for efforts to launch similar programs elsewhere throughout the world. He also developed among the world’s first truffle extension programs to promote truffles as an alternative crop by providing educational and technical assistance to truffle growers. This program has facilitated the establishment of 1800 acres of truffle orchards in Catalonia alone, as well helping to stimulate the rapid growth of Spain’s larger truffle cultivation industry. Within the past few years, the education programs conducted by Dr. Colinas and his team have grown to attract farmers and researchers from around the world.

Dr. Colinas’ recent research has focused on development of a molecular technique to directly quantify abundance of truffle mycelium in soils, and he has established one of the only scientifically rigorous large-scale field studies measuring effects of varying irrigation treatments on black truffle production. These projects will be the focus of his Truffle Growers’ Forum presentation at the 2016 Oregon Truffle Festival.