Carlo Montes

Carlo Montes is a climate scientist with extensive expertise in agricultural climatology, bioclimatology, and the application of predictive modeling for climate change adaptation. He currently serves as a scientist within the CGIAR FOCUS Climate Security team, where he conducts research at the intersection of climate, food security, human mobility and peacebuilding, developing tools and strategies to enhance resilience and stability in vulnerable socio-ecological systems. Carlo holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Physics from the University of Montpellier, a Master’s degree in Terrestrial Biosphere Sciences from the University of Paris, a Master’s degree in Meteorology and Climatology from the University of Chile, and a degree in Agricultural Engineering (minoring in soil science) from the University of Chile. His interdisciplinary background enables him to bridge science, policy, and practice in addressing climate-related risks.

Carlo has led and contributed to multidisciplinary projects across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, focusing on climate resilience, climate information systems, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve weather and climate predictions. His work includes the development of geospatial tools for drought monitoring and forecasting, and impact assessments on agricultural systems under climate change. Within CGIAR, Carlo applies systems thinking to explore the dynamics of complex socio-ecological systems, integrating climate, environmental, and socioeconomic data to inform sustainable policy and decision-making.

Before joining The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Rome, Italy, Carlo was a climate scientist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Bangladesh and Mexico and has worked with institutions such as NASA in New York City and IRD in France. His contributions include work on general circulation models and research on water use efficiency in Mediterranean agriculture. He is an active contributor to international scientific forums and has published widely in the fields of climate science, agrometeorology, and environmental modeling.