Antonio Villarroel has been working for the plant breeding and seed industry since 1995, when he joined as Lawyer and Managing Director GESLIVE, the organization created by main breeders operating in Spain to provide licensing, royalty collection and enforcement services. From 2006 he is also the Secretary General of ANOVE (“Spanish National Association of Plant Breeders”), from where he actively participates in the seed industry international organizations.

Member of the Intellectual Property Committee of ISF (International Seed Federation), where he chairs the Working Group on “Illegal Seed Practices”; member of CIOPORA' Working Group "Enforcement"; and Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of Euroseeds (European Seed Association).

Mr. Villarroel has a Law Degree from Universidad Complutense of Madrid. He has published several articles and regularly lectures on IP and plant breeders’ rights in several Spanish Universities (Politécnica Madrid, Rey Juan Carlos Madrid, Córdoba, Alicante).