Augusto Castro-Nunez

Augusto Castro-Núñez is a visionary leader in climate action, known for his ability to find connections across complex topics such as climate mitigation, nutrition, peacebuilding, and multiple dimensions of food systems. He heads the Low-Emissions Food Systems research theme at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, driving the transformation of food and land systems into low greenhouse gas emitters while delivering tangible sustainable development benefits, with a strong focus on conflict-affected countries in the Global South.

At the CGIAR Climate Action Science Program, Augusto leads the mitigation work package, spearheading innovations that scale solutions to curb emissions across global food systems. A PhD graduate from the University of Copenhagen, he is a former climate negotiator for Peru and a Lead Author for the IPCC 7th Assessment Report, bringing both scientific depth and diplomatic experience to his work.

He has a strong track record of supporting the next generation of researchers and practitioners, mentoring early career investigators, and fostering capacity building. His team, composed predominantly of women from the Global South, benefits from his holistic approach that integrates scientific rigor with practical impact across projects.

Among his flagship initiatives, the Sustainable Land Use (SLU) Project pioneered scalable, zero-deforestation business models to combat forest loss and promote peacebuilding in tropical regions. The GIC-LAC Project elevated national reporting capacities across Latin America and the Caribbean, enabling countries to meet their climate commitments to the UNFCCC, while the EPINER Project broke new ground by integrating nutrition outcomes with climate change mitigation strategies in conflict affected settings.