Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane

Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane is a senior scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, one of the CGIAR centers, based in Nairobi. With an impressive career spanning over 20 years, his expertise lies in crop improvement, seed systems, and the utilization of biodiversity, especially agricultural biodiversity, to uplift farmers' livelihoods and promote sustainable production systems.
In recent years, Yosef has devotedly pursued research endeavors that emphasize participatory methods, breeding techniques, and genomics to enhance biodiversity and improve the well-being of farmers, particularly in the face of climate change. His extensive studies have focused on the potential of Ethiopian durum wheat, as well as barley and teff, conducting thorough investigations into their characteristics, resilience, and adaptability.
Having earned his PhD in Agrobiodiversity – plant genetic resources from the Sant'Anna Advanced University in Italy, Yosef also holds a master's degree in plant breeding from Haremaya University and a BSc degree in plant science from the former Debub University, Ethiopia. Prior to his current role, he served as a dedicated researcher and center director at the Sirinka Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia from 2002 to 2015. During his tenure, he contributed significantly to the development of numerous crop varieties.
At present, Yosef manages several global scientific projects and flagships within the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. These projects are implemented in various countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, India, Nepal, Vietnam, and Colombia. His work revolves around the integration of biodiversity, genomics, breeding, and agronomy with participatory and socio-economic multidisciplinary scientific teams. His goal is to achieve scientific excellence in the fields of biodiversity, genomics, breeding, and plant protection, primarily focusing on cereal and pulse crops. Driven by a passion to assist small-scale farmers in emerging nations, he aims to contribute significantly to the research and development efforts of the global scientific community.
Yosef's contributions extend beyond his extensive research, as his work has been published more than 42 scientific papers, book chapters and blogs. His research articles serve as a testament to his dedication, expertise, and commitment to advancing agricultural sciences and improving the lives of farmers worldwide.