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Romain Gautron
Postdoctoral Fellow
My research focuses on the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools for decision support targeting smallholder farmers. I have a strong interest in user-centered and integrated design of digital solutions that can enhance existing value networks. I am currently working on the "Croppie" digital solution that provides picture-based yield estimates and management decision support for high-value crops, with a primary focus on coffee. I lead Croppie development in Latin…
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Camilo Ujueta
Gerente de Infraestructura y Operaciones
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Pedro Anglaze Chilambe
Research Team leader, Climate Finance
Pedro Chilambe, a Researcher on Climate finance and Co-leads Global Finance and Investments Research Area at the Alliance of Bioversity International & International Centre for Tropical Agriculture's Climate action lever, currently leads work on climate finance and agricultural risk management. With a focus on strategic project design, execution, and partnership development. His prior role as a Climate Finance Specialist involved leading…
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Liz Ogutu
Policy Manager and Lead, Eastern and Southern Africa region for Climate Action
Liz Ogutu leads the Eastern and Southern Africa region for Climate Action at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. She is also a Policy Analyst with an interest in food systems and nutrition. Previously she was the Policy, Advocacy and Regional Coordinator for Africa at HarvestPlus – an IFPRI program. She has also held leadership positions at Africa Union’s Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), led…
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Benjamin Schiek
Senior Research Associate
Benjamin Schiek is an agricultural economist specializing in ex-ante impact assessment of agricultural research for development (AR4D) policies and projects, with an emphasis on climate change adaptation strategies. His current work focuses on applications of financial risk assessment, real options evaluation, and portfolio optimization techniques in the context of AR4D, smallholder farming, and climate change. He is familiar with post-conflict environments, having edited…
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Cyrus Muriithi
Senior Analyst
I am a data scientist with a strong background in economics, finance, and statistics. My passion lies in harnessing the power of data to develop impactful solutions, particularly those addressing poverty alleviation and empowering smallholder households.
Since 2009, I have built extensive experience in research, data analysis, experimentation, and behavioral science. Throughout my career, I have held various data-focused roles such as data analyst, research analyst, data manager,…
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Jose Polania
Scientist II
Jose Polania is a bean physiologist working on the adaptation of this crop to different agroecosystems, specifically in adaptation to abiotic stress such as drought, heat, low soil fertility, low phosphorus content in the soil and toxicity of some elements in the soil such as aluminum. His work also involves the relationship of the plant with soil microorganisms such as rhizobia and mycorrhizae. His research has been focused on carbon partitioning in the plant under abiotic stress…
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Mateo Pazos Cárdenas
Research Associate
Mateo Pazos Cárdenas is an anthropologist with a master’s degree in Latin American studies and a PhD in social anthropology. Currently, he works as a research associate in gender in the Tropical Forages program at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (Americas Hub). His research work is focused on gender-sensitive breeding and gender-focused practices for adopting sustainable technologies and innovations in livestock production. This means he understands not…
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Leonardo Rodriguez Suarez
Research Associate
I am currently a research associate in the environmental biology area of the Tropical Forages Program within the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT. I work on a project funded by the Bezos Earth Fund focusing on carbon sequestration. We are exploring the potential of tropical forage grass diversity to accumulate organic carbon in deep soil layers. Additionally, I am investigating the role of improved forages in enhancing soil health within crop-livestock…
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Grazia Pacillo
Senior Scientist and Co-lead of CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security
Grazia Pacillo has dedicated her career to supporting decision-makers in designing and implementing sustainable development projects, programmes, and solutions that are sensitive to multiple risks, particularly the nexus of climate, fragility, migration, and security.
She is the Lead of the Climate Security research flagship, managing a fast-growing, multidisciplinary team of more than 70 staff in 26 countries across seven regional hubs,…
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Anastasia Wahome
Research Team Leader
Anastasia is a Research Team Leader with a background in Computer Science and GIS, leading and managing geospatial projects, including the coordination of data acquisition, ensuring high-quality user-tailored data and tools, and supporting the integration of these tools into broader environmental and development initiatives, stakeholder engagements and collaborations, and team leadership. Her roles include leading a team of technical specialists in implementing Climate…
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Luis Alfonso Valderrama Florez
Senior Research Associate - Bean Genetics And Breeding
Agricultural engineer from the National University of Colombia.
I coordinate the operations of the Mesoamerican Bean Breeding program in Palmira and Santander de Quilichao developing bean bred lines that tolerates drought, poor soil conditions and resist pest and diseases and also express higher mineral contents.
I have experience in farming systems, soil management, pest management, agronomy, seed preservation and technology…
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Natalia Teran
Research Assistant II
I´m a Biotechnologist working for the Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT as a Research Assistant with the team located in Leuven, Belgium. My tasks include:
• Maintaining the in-vitro collection of: Banana, Taro, Coconut, Cassava, Sweet Potato, Dragon Fruit, Palms, Coffee and Cacao.
• Maintaining the embryogenic cell suspensions of banana.
• Applying different tissues’ culture techniques such as micropropagation and embryo rescue.
• Taking part in the cryopreservation…
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Felix Otieno
Senior Research Associate-Impact Evaluation
Felix is a Senior Research Associate supporting impact evaluation and agricultural risk finance efforts at Climate Action Lever. He holds a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Kerala Agricultural University. Felix has worked in agricultural research for development space for over seven years. His areas of expertise include econometric modeling, crop modeling, agricultural value chain analysis,…
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Luz Andrea Gómez Martínez
Senior Research Associate
Luz Andrea is a Biologist specializing in Molecular Biology with an MSc in Biotechnology from Icesi University. She has experience in cassava genetics, KASP genotyping, molecular biology, plant-bacteria interactions, in vitro plant tissue culture, and fluorescence and confocal microscopy. She currently coordinates the molecular biology laboratory within the Cassava Genetics Team, managing daily operations across platforms such as Manual and Automated High-…
