Meet the speakers

Aditya Alta is Head of Research at the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS). As a researcher, Aditya’s main research agenda covers food security and agricultural policy in Indonesia, particularly focusing on sustainable livelihoods, agricultural subsidies and other support measures, and the food value chains. He holds a master’s degree in development policy from Erasmus University Rotterdam and enjoys doing qualitative research for its capacity for nuanced human engagement. As CIPS’ research director, he oversees research projects and advocacy activities in CIPS’ focus areas: sustainable food systems and agriculture, open and competitive business environment, and quality education.

Dr. Amanuel Tamiru is a Senior Scientist and Leader of the Push-Pull Programme under Plant Health Theme. He earned a Ph.D. from Kenyatta University through doctoral research conducted at icipe (Kenya), Rothamsted Research (UK) and Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (Germany). He holds an MSc in Biology (Insect Sciences) from Addis Ababa University and a BSc in Agriculture (Plant Sciences) from Hawassa University.

Dr Tamiru is interested in understanding the underlying chemical ecology mechanisms of insect–plant and plant-plant interactions, above-below ground, with the aim of developing innovative, climate smart, ecologically sustainable, and affordable solutions to manage crop pests that threaten food and nutrition security. He conducts cutting-edge research in plant signaling and insect-plant interactions, employing the latest behavioural and chemical ecology techniques. He has discovered insect-egg deposition induces the production of bioactive volatiles attractive to parasitic wasps in some maize cultivars and elucidated underpinning molecular mechanisms. His other key discoveries include elucidating the underpinning chemical ecology mechanisms of the ‘Push-Pull’ cropping system in fighting an invasive fall armyworm pest, characterization of the first male-produced aggregation pheromone in the genus Megalurothrips and identification of volatile semiochemicals mediating vector thrips species-maize chlorotic mottle virus-host plant interactions.

He is a recipient of several highly competitive awards and fellowships including icipe’s Staff Award of Excellence for Outstanding Publication of the Year, the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) – Early Career Scientist Award, the prestigious Rothamsted International Award, Rothamsted Research (UK), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Award, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, (Germany), Entomological Society of America (ESA) – Early Professionals (STEP) Award and icipe’s Governing Council Award for Best Published Science Paper. He has authored and co-authored several scientific publications in high-impact journals such as Ecology Letters.

Ana Maria Loboguerrero leads the foundation’s work to support women in agriculture, improve access to nutritious and affordable foods, and advance climate adaptation and mitigation approaches.

A Colombian economist, Ana Maria previously served as director of climate action at CGIAR, where she maintained close relationships with governments and partners across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Earlier, she led global policy research for the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the CCAFS Latin American Regional Program.

Before joining CGIAR, Ana Maria worked as the climate change coordinator at the Sustainable Environmental Development Deputy Directorate of Colombia’s National Planning Department. In that role, she led the formulation of Colombia’s Climate Change Policy, National Adaptation Plan, National Development Plan, and research agenda on climate change, and she coordinated technical support for the Colombian Low Carbon Development Strategy.

Ana Maria’s research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods and theories from the social and natural sciences to address fundamental challenges posed by climate change in the Global South. Her main focus has been on how science can inform policymaking and influence both policy stakeholders and farmers. In particular, she has explored ways to foster dialogue between researchers and farmers so farmers have options in the face of both short- and longer-term variations in climate.

She has also used economic models to assess the consequences of climate adaptation and mitigation for the economic development of countries. This research has deeply informed national policies and approaches to transforming food systems.

Ana Maria’s contributions include numerous high-impact projects in rural communities around the world and a long list of publications. She has a master’s degree and Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Andy Jarvis has worked for over 20 years in research for development to support the delivery of food security and environmental sustainability in the food system. His research has focused on data-driven policy analysis on a variety of topics from agrobiodiversity conservation to climate impacts and adaptation. Andy joined the Bezos Earth Fund from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, a CGIAR center, as the Associate Director General for Research Strategy and Innovation where he oversaw research that spans from crop breeding and genetics to landscape management, climate adaptation and mitigation through to dietary shifts and consumer behavior.

Andy holds a PhD in Geography from King’s College London, and is located in Cali, Colombia.

Arthur Khomotso Mahuma is an Economist and Researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) based at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. He is part of CCRED’s initiative called the African Market Observatory (AMO), which seeks to understand the market dynamics of agrifood system in Southern and Eastern Africa. This is done by monitoring prices and conducting research across different supply chains within and across national borders.
He has more than 10 years’ experience in competition economics across a range of sectors, including telecommunications, food and agro processing, energy and digital platforms. He was previously a Senior Economist at the Competition Commission of South Africa. He holds a Masters in Development Economics from the University of Johannesburg.

Bettie Nanyonjo Luwuge is a Tanzanian Participatory Natural Resources Management specialist and Project Manager with the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG). She has extensive experience supporting rural communities in strengthening forest governance, securing forest rights, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Bettie has been actively involved in key initiatives such as Making REDD Work for Communities and Forest Conservation in Tanzania, Transforming Tanzania’s Charcoal Sector and the Forest Rights and Livelihoods project. Her work focuses on advancing equitable natural resource management, climate-smart agriculture, and community advocacy. Through capacity building, stakeholder and engagement, and policy influence, Bettie continues to champion inclusive approaches that amplify community voices and foster climate resilience, sustainable forest conservation, and improved livelihoods across Tanzania.

Director, Agricultural Economics

Binod Ghimire is the Director of Agricultural Economics (Under-Secretary) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperative in Lumbini Province, Nepal. He has 13 years of policy-level experience in the government sector. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics, with research and publications focusing on farming system resilience and agricultural value chains. He also holds dual master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Public Administration. His expertise includes climate-smart agriculture, sustainable farming systems, agricultural value chains, production economics, agribusiness management, and agricultural markets. With over a decade of experience in agricultural policy, planning, and rural development, he has contributed to numerous research and development programs that aim to strengthen Nepal’s agricultural sector.

Bruno Brasil is the Director of Sustainable Production and Irrigation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Brazil. He is responsible for coordinating the Sectorial Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and Low Carbon Emissions in Agriculture (ABC+ Plan), the National Program for Soils in Brazil (Pronasolos), among other public policies.

Graduated in Biological Sciences, he holds an MBA in Project Management, as well as a Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Microbiology. Dr. Brasil was co-founder and R&D Director of the biotechnology-based company Myleus. In 2012, he assumed a position as a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and served as R&D Deputy Director at Embrapa Agroenergy Unit for two years. Moreover, Dr. Brasil was Secretary of Embrapa’s R&D Department at the company’s headquarters for four years. Between 2022 and 2023, he served as Strategy Superintendent at Embrapa headquarters.

Camila Ester Hollas is an Environmental Engineer who graduated (2015) from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), with a master’s degree (2018) and doctorate (2022) in Agricultural Engineering from the State University of Western Paraná (UNIOESTE). She develops activities aimed at mitigating environmental impacts, with experience in the management and treatment of wastewater and animal production waste. She has conducted research on biological nitrogen removal and the energy use of organic waste through the production of biogas and biomethane, with an emphasis on the life cycle assessment of treatment systems. He currently collaborates with Instituto 17 on initiatives to quantify environmental impacts and on studies related to sustainability and the circular economy, in addition to contributing to technical solutions aimed at the sustainable use of waste.

Carlos Ramos Venancio is an Agronomic Engineer graduated from Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture/University of São Paulo with a specialization in Plant Protection from Federal University of Viçosa. As an Agricultural and Livestock Fiscal Auditor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock since 2007, he has extensive experience in agricultural regulation and policy. He served as Head of the Pesticide Registration and Inspection at General Coordination for three years. Currently, he works in the Sustainable Production Department, contributing to initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture practices.

Chris Carson is a Senior Agriculture Specialist in the Climate and Nature team in the World Bank’s Global Department for Agriculture and Food. He is seconded into the World Bank by the New Zealand government. Prior to joining the Bank, Chris was Chief Trade Policy Officer in New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries providing specialist advice to the Ministry on trade policy and the nexus with sustainability measures. From 2019 to 2024 Chris was Agriculture Counsellor in the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the European Union in Brussels. He worked on issues affecting New Zealand’s global and bilateral trading relationships and climate change and sustainability. He also represented New Zealand at the OECD. Previously Chris was Director of International Policy in the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand. The Directorate’s responsibilities included trade (negotiation and implementation of multilateral and bilateral agreements) and international environment issues (including climate change negotiations and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases). Earlier in his career Chris worked in the WTO and OECD Secretariats.

Chris Chilcott has over 25 years of experience in the environmental and agricultural sector. He has worked in natural resource management spanning research, industry development, and policy. Most recently he had worked in water related development, livestock industries rangeland management and assisting in the establishment of the Darwin Living Lab. Chris leads CSIRO’s work on developing Northern Australia based at the Darwin laboratory. CSIRO Environment examines the increasing pressures facing our natural and built environments from the combined effects of climate change, extreme events, non-sustainable use of natural resources and legacy activities. It hosts Australia’s national capability to observe and model our atmosphere and oceans and develop our earth system models to address climate change and emission reduction challenges, and the science to support adaption and mitigation.

Claudia Arndt is a Senior Scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Nairobi, Kenya, where she leads the Mazingira Centre team, working on greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient cycling, and environmental sustainability in African livestock systems. She holds a PhD in Dairy Sciences from the University of Wisconsin, USA, and has over 15 years of experience in livestock production, climate change mitigation, and sustainable livestock development in both high-income and low- and middle income countries.
Her research focuses on quantifying and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant systems through improved animal health, nutrition, and manure management, with a strong emphasis on developing country contexts. She has led multiple international projects, collaborating with governments, universities, and development partners to generate evidence for country-specific Tier 2 greenhouse gas inventories and scalable mitigation strategies.
Claudia has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to global initiatives. She plays a leading role in science-policy engagement, bridging research with decision-making to support climate smart livestock development. Her current work integrates multiple emission measurement and estimation methods to improve the quantification of emissions and to generate evidence on climate-smart practices that both increase productivity and lower emission intensities, informing mitigation interventions in East Africa.

Claudia Martínez is the Founder and Executive Director of E3 – Ecology, Economy and Ethics, and leads the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) in Colombia.

She previously served as Deputy Minister of Environment of Colombia, and held leadership roles at the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) as Director of Sustainable Development and later as Vice President for Environmental and Social Development and Small and Medium Enterprises. Earlier in her career, she coordinated environmental projects for the Latin America Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. For eight years, she was a member of the Independent Advisory Panel of the Green Climate Fund.

Claudia holds a degree in Business Administration from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and Master’s degrees in Development Economics and Environmental Studies from Yale University. She is also the Co-founder of Sistem a B Colombia, has served on multiple boards of directors, and has been a university professor and author of several publications on climate change, economics, food systems and sustainable development.

Agricultural Engineer, specialist in Nutrition and Fertilization of Medicinal Plants. Works in sustainable management and production optimization of medicinal species.

Dhanush is the Founder and Chief Climate Catalyst of Clim-Eat, the ‘think and do tank’ for food and climate which he established in 2021 at COP26. Clim-Eat focuses on bridging science and policy on food and climate issues by synthesizing knowledge, convening stakeholders, providing strategic advice, and policy engagement.

His previous work experience includes roles within the private sector, NGOs, and the UN and CGIAR systems, in China, India, Thailand, The Netherlands and the UK. He has worked on a range of issues including forestry, environmental policy, climate change adaptation, and advocacy, at the national, regional, and global levels.

Dhanush has an interdisciplinary academic background, combining an MBA, MSc in Carbon management, and a PhD in Environmental Governance. He is a member of the Advisory
Boards of the EAT Foundation. ClieNFarms and the Global Food and Environment Institute
at the University of Leeds.

Dr. Elizabeth Bryan is a Research Fellow and Theme Lead for Equitable Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Her work focuses on climate-resilient agriculture, gender equality, and natural resource management, and she has published numerous academic articles on these topics. Elizabeth leads several initiatives, including the Gender, Climate Change, and Nutrition Integration Initiative (GCAN), the Methods and Metrics portfolio under the CGIAR Gender Accelerator, and IFPRI’s work on inclusive and nutrition-sensitive small-scale irrigation, and collaborates widely across interdisciplinary teams to advance policy-relevant research in low-income countries. Before joining IFPRI, she worked for the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction Group and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences (University of Hohenheim), an MA in Development Economics (American University), and a BA in International Affairs (Wagner College).

Pharmacist, master’s degree in natural product pharmacology, doctorate in pharmacognosy, and postdoctoral degree in bioproduct development. Works in research on medicinal plants, phytochemistry, phytotherapy, and bioeconomics in health.

Fábio Silva is an administrator graduated from the University Center of Maranhão (CEUMA), has a master’s degree in Socioeconomic Development from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA) and is currently a PhD student in Economics at the University of Brasília (UnB). He has experience in the area of management and innovation, having served as CEO of the Company Leiraw Professional Solutions. In the field of education, he was a professor in the National Program for Access to Technical Education and Employment (PRONATEC), at the State University of Maranhão (UEMA). Currently, he is part of the team of the Integrated Center for Territorial Planning (CIORD) and the Center for Technological Development (CDT), both at UnB, where he develops activities aimed at territorial planning and the promotion of technological solutions with a focus on valuing intangible assets, regional development and innovation. His trajectory combines academic and practical experience, with an emphasis on the articulation between economy, territory and technology.

Flavio Breseghello currently serves as the Director of the Global Wheat Program at CIMMYT. He has more than 30 years of experience in plant breeding, cereal genetics and research management.
At Embrapa, he worked as rice breeder and germplasm curator. Later, he assumed senior leadership roles within the Brazilian research organization, first as Head of Research and Development and later as Director

General of Embrapa Rice and Beans.
Flavio holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Cornell University (USA), where he did pioneer work in wheat association analysis. He has been influential in experimental data management and estimation of genetic gains in breeding programs.

Currently, his work focuses on leading an international team dedicated to global food security through the development and sharing of high-performing wheat germplasm adapted to the most challenging environments in the Global South.

Francila Calica is the Head of Agricultural Affairs and Sustainability for Latin America at Bayer. With nearly two decades of professional experience, she is a senior executive in institutional and governmental, crises and reputation management, adept at connecting companies, society, and government in complex regulatory contexts. With a background in journalism and a consolidated career in agribusiness, Francila has worked in media outlets, class entities, and multinational corporations. Francila holds a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Goiás, a master’s in communication from ISE Business School, and a postgraduate degree in Sustainability and ESG from FIA.

Gabriel Quintana specializes in GHG emissions in the agricultural sector through the Imaflora Climate Science Initiative. He holds a degree in Environmental Engineering from the UNICAMP School of Technology and a postgraduate degree in Agribusiness from ESALQ/USP. He currently specializes in soil and plant nutrition at ESALQ/USP. He works with data generation and analysis for the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimation System (SEEG) and the agricultural sector’s methane mitigation agenda, primarily with the ABC+ Plan. He is also a partner of Youth Climate Leaders (YCL).

Agricultural Engineer, Master’s Degree in Plant Pathology. Specialist in Geoprocessing and Ecological Landscaping.

A career diplomat with extensive experience in economic and trade related issues, Grace Tanno has served in diplomatic representations in Geneva, Beijing, Buenos Aires and Singapore. She is currently Head of the Division of Agricultural Policy at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hendrik is the global advisor for agriculture, food systems and natural resource management at Welthungerhilfe (WHH, one of Europe´s largest NGOs working on food system transformation with the goal to achieve zero hunger) in Berlin, Germany. He co-develops, supports and implements WHH´s global strategy as well as its agricultural and food systems program together with colleagues and partners in 36 countries.
Hendrik has a background in ecology, resilience science, forestry and agriculture as well as a PhD in agricultural economics. He has worked extensively on food system transformation and rural development particularly on the African continent both as a consultant and researcher and has worked with many different stakeholders including the private sector , think tanks, development cooperation, farmer organizations, governments, and development cooperation.

Heris Coutinho is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Brasília (UnB), specializing in Agricultural and Environmental Economics. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics, with an emphasis on Quantitative Methods and Markets (MQM), from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), a specialization in International Relations from UnB with studies in International Politics and China’s International Relations, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Currently, he works as an analyst in economic and accounting prospecting at the Center for the Support of Technological Development (CDT/UnB). His professional background includes financial consulting and investment analysis. His research examines the economic and environmental impacts of climate change, with a focus on sustainable development, natural resource economics, and the role of renewable energy in Brazil.

Imelda Bacudo is a Climate, Agriculture, and Food Systems Leader with over 25 years of global experience advancing sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. She co-founded the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network and helped establish the ASEAN Negotiating Group for Agriculture under the UNFCCC. As part of the COP28 Presidency team, she was instrumental in developing the landmark COP28 Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. Imelda has led initiatives with FAO, ASEAN, and international partners to unlock climate finance, promote climate-smart agriculture, and ensure farmers’ voices shape policy. She is passionate about translating global climate commitments into grassroots action.

Inge recently started as Agricultural Counselor to Brazil, after a previous appointment as Agricultural Counselor to Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. She represents the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature in this exciting and diverse working area that is the country of Brazil. In representing The Netherlands, she has a focus on sustainable agriculture, and its role in building sustainable food systems, on nature and biodiversity, and the effect climate has on that and on soil health and healthy resilient crop protection.

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Biology.

Jens Sundtrom is associate professor and extension specialist in Plant Biology. He is principal investigator of the Low Methane Rice Project. Together with his team he has studied methane emissions from rice paddies and developed rice pre-breeding lines associated with low-methane emissions and sustained yields.

Katja Vuori is the Chief Executive Officer of AgriCord, a global alliance of 13 agri-agencies mandated by farmers’ organisations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. With over two decades of experience in international development, rural transformation, and farmers’ empowerment, she leads AgriCord’s mission to strengthen farmers’ organisations through peer-to-peer cooperation and strategic partnerships. Katja has worked extensively on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and inclusive innovation, and is a strong advocate for ensuring farmers’ voices and leadership are central in global policy processes on climate, biodiversity, and food systems.

Lara Gilmour is the Director of Policy and Sustainability at the Global Pulse Confederation, where she focuses on advancing sustainable agricultural practices, expanding the global pulse market, and supporting trade and policy initiatives that promote pulses as a key component of nutrition, environmental sustainability, and food security. She is involved in international forums such as COP conferences and food system summits, and collaborates on campaigns like #BeansOnTheMenu Singapore to increase pulse consumption. Lara also works to provide transparent market data and foster engagement with the finance sector and other stakeholders to support investment in pulses worldwide.

Laurence Jassogne is the Head of Nature and Climate Solutions at Olam Agri, a global agricultural commodity trading company. Laurence has more than 20 yearexperience in the agricultural sector. She holds a PhD in soil science from the University of Western Australia. After her PhD, she moved to Uganda where she worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Her research included topics such as scaling climate smart solutions in smallholder agricultural supply chains. During her work, she became convinced that private sector can be a catalyst for change. That is why she decided to leave the CGIAR at the end of 2018 to start an MBA. In 2020,she moved to Singapore together with her family. There she got the opportunity to start as a technical lead in the Environmental Trading Business and in the Nature-based Solutions business at Shell. These businesses invested in projects that supply carboncredits. Since 2024, she joined Olam Agri where she supports the businesses in scaling climate and nature positive solutions. She is now based in the Netherlands.

Leida Mercado is a Venezuelan agronomic engineer with a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from Cornell University, specializing in the economic valuation of environmental resources and ecosystem services. With over 25 years of experience, she has combined research, education, and project implementation to advance climate-resilient and sustainable agrifood systems across Latin America and the Caribbean.

As Leader of the ESCALAR Project at CATIE, Dr. Mercado directs a multidisciplinary team to promote the large-scale adoption of climate-resilient practices through capacity building, access to climate finance, policy advocacy, and gender-equitable approaches. Her work integrates research on climate-smart landscape management, climate finance mechanisms, and agriculture innovation systems. Previously, as CATIE’s Director of Research, she fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and expanded research funding aligned with institutional priorities on climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture.

Her international career includes leadership roles at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she guided policy and programmatic initiatives on climate change, energy, and environmental economics, supporting governments in more than 20 countries. She has provided consultancy work for FAO, UN-Environment, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Dr. Mercado has published various articles in high impact scientific journals, as well as technical reports and policy briefs aimed at conveying scientific data to support policymaking.

In education, Dr. Mercado has taught graduate courses, supervised research, and coordinated regional training programs on economic valuation, climate smart agriculture, climate finance, circular economy and sustainable development, strengthening national and local capacities across Latin America.

Her expertise spans economic valuation, policy design, and integrated landscape management, positioning her as a regional leader in linking scientific research with practical solutions that enhance resilience, productivity, and equity in agricultural systems under climate change.

Lisset Pérez-Marulanda is an economist and human geographer with a Ph.D. in Geosciences and Natural Resources Management from the University of Copenhagen. She is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Action at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, specializing in sustainable agri-food systems, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. Her work focuses on advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture through innovation systems, green finance, and cross-sectoral partnerships, with experience across Latin America in linking research, policy, and practice for low-emission, climate-resilient development

Manuela Santos is the Country Director at IDH Brazil, a Dutch foundation working across the globe to promote better environment, better jobs and better income through food systems transformation. With a B.A in Business and a MSc in Ecology, she’s been working for nearly 15 years managing programs and creating innovative solutions with companies, governments, civil society and producers to foster inclusive value chains, tackle climate change and promote food security.

Marcelo Fernandes Guimarães holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Brasília (1984), pursued master’s-level studies in Agricultural Economics at Wye College, University of London (2000), and earned an M.Sc. in Agribusiness from the University of Brasília (2006).

He began his career in economic consulting and private banking (1984–1987), later working at the Brazilian National Food Supply Company – CONAB (1988–1992) and the Ministry of Planning’s Secretariat of International Affairs (1992–1997).

From 1997 to 2023, he served at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s Secretariat of Agricultural Policy, holding roles such as Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Director of Risk Management. His work focused on rural credit, farm financing, crop insurance, sectoral planning, international agricultural affairs, and economic analysis. He represented Brazil in the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) from 2012 to 2023, chairing the group in 2017.

Since 2024, he has been a Planning Analyst at the Secretariat of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation, and Cooperativism within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Secretary of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

A professional with a solid career in the federal public administration, holding senior leadership, management, and advisory positions in various ministries. Currently serves as the Secretary of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

He has extensive experience in innovation, public management, information technology, and public policy evaluation, having developed strategic projects at the Ministry of Citizenship, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

He holds a Master’s degree in Project Management Methodology (UFG), an MBA in Public Management (PUC-SP), an MBA in Marketing Management (UFRJ), and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (PUC Goiás).

Marcelo Torres is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Brasília, Brazil, where he has taught econometrics and environmental economics since 2011. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis (2004), an M.A. in Economics from the University of São Paulo (1996), and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Brasília (1993). His research focuses on water economics, hydroeconomic modeling, and water utility cost structures, with applied work on water allocation, rural poverty, and dynamic cost minimization models in Brazil and Southern California.

Maria Boa Alvarado is a PhD candidate in Development Sociology at Cornell University, specializing in responsible innovation for climate-resilient food systems. She holds a Master’s in Rural Development through the Erasmus Mundus program.

Previously, she served as Scaling Coordinator for CIMMYT/CGIAR’s Sustainable Agri-Food Systems program, facilitating participatory research across Latin America and Africa, and worked with CIAT/CGIAR’s Climate Change program and Catholic Relief Services.

Her doctoral research examines transformation processes in Mexico’s agro-food landscapes. She is particularly interested in foresight methodologies that ensure science serve community needs while addressing climate challenges.

He is a professional in agriculture science (Masters in Agronomy and Doctorate in Agriculture Extension) with over 27 years of working experience covering Comprehensive Watershed and Natural Resource Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, sustainable Lean Farming, agribusiness covering supply and value chain, promotion of farmer’s institutions, dissemination of knowledge and technology, ICT and innovations in agriculture. He is currently the Executive Director of National Agro Foundation (NAF), a pan India organization, working on comprehensive rural development with special focus on agriculture and marginalized farming and rural community. Under his leadership, NAF is positively impacting more than 4+ lakh farmers covering 3700+ villages across 8 states of India. He had the distinct privilege of working with two Bharat Ratna Shri C Subramaniam, the Founder of NAF and Dr AP J Abdul Kalam, Former President of India and Chairman of NAF Governing Council.

Muhammad Ibrahim has over 35 years of experience in research, teaching, and project management. He previously served as Director of Technical Cooperation of the Inter-AmericanInstitute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and as Director General of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), where he worked for more than 30 years, including eight years in the top leadership position. He also held various roles at IICA, including Associate Director of Technical Cooperation, Leader of the flagship project “Resilience and comprehensive risk management in agriculture” and IICA Representative in Belize. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences by Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. Among his recent publications are: “Enteric Methane Emissions in Dairy Cows with Different Genetic Groups in the Humid Tropics of Costa Rica” (Animal 2023), “Silvopastoral systems and remnant forests enhance carbon storage in livestock-dominated landscapes in Mexico” (Scientific Reports 2022) among others. His research interests include understanding how market-based mechanisms and regulatory frameworks influence the adoption of silvopastoral systems. As a research professor, Muhammad Ibrahim has supervised more than 100 master’s students and 7 doctoral candidates. He is also a member of several important global platforms, including the Global Sustainable Livestock Agenda.

Olaf Westermann is a Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Land Restoration at Catholic Relief Services (CRS), where he supports CRS’s global agriculture and livelihoods programming. He also co-led the Strategic Change Platform for Scaling Livelihood and Landscape Restoration. Outside of CRS, Olaf served for several years as a Director on the Board of the Global EverGreening Alliance and continues to contribute as a member of its Strategic Advisory Committee. He also sits on the Steering Committees for Regreening Africa and Restore Africa respectively, the latter being the world’s largest carbon-funded smallholder restoration program. Prior to joining CRS, Olaf worked with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) in Denmark, where he coordinated the development of the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) 101 web-based learning platform. In Denmark he also held a position as Director at the Board of the Danish NGO Forests of the World. From 2008 to 2014, he served as a Senior Advisor on Protected Areas Management and Climate Change for the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA) in Bolivia. Before that, he was a researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia and the Danish Institute of International Studies, focusing on the social and organizational dimensions of water and watershed management, including collective action and conflict, participatory monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder and gender analysis. Dr. Westermann holds a Ph.D. in Social Science, specializing in pro-poor payment for environmental services schemes.

Mr. Paul A. Sobowale SOREMI is a Ph.D (Crop Physiology) candidate and Lecturer at the Department of Plant Physiology and Crop Production, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria. His research focuses on developing climate-smart agricultural practices particularly in rice-based systems and farmer-led innovations for sustainable agriculture practices with expertise in enhancing crop resilience, improving nutrient use efficiency and mitigating greenhouse emissions in cropping systems. A recipient of the prestigious New Phytologist travel grant, A.G. Leventis–Egba Scholarship and the CLIFF-GRADS Scholarship, amongst others. His experience includes conducting research at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia. He is passionate about translating research into practical solutions for sustainable food production in tropical agro-ecologies.

He is involved in mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists and have supervised numerous undergraduate students (34 as at date) projects; and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications (29 as at date) in reputable journals and has presented his works at national and international conferences. He holds membership of some professional bodies and actively engages in extension and community development, providing training on good agricultural practices to farmers and extension officers.

Climate and Data Inteligence Manager at IMAFLORA. Paulo is Economist from UNESP and with a master’s and doctorate in Economics from CEDEPLAR/UFMG, he is a specialist in climate and agribusiness financing, sustainable taxonomy of the agricultural sector, and economic incentives for decarbonization of the Brazilian economy.

Dr Rachel Waterhouse leads international engagement strategy for the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on climate resilient, environmentally sustainable agriculture and food systems. Her career spans a varied history of promoting just transitions to sustainable land use and food systems, working with governments and a wide range of non-state actors internationally.

Rachel currently leads the Resilient Ocean-Coasts, Water and Land-Use Systems (ROWLS) team in FCDO; holding previous portfolios on forests, climate resilience and human development. She spearheaded the ‘Transition to Sustainable Agriculture’ campaign forUK’s COP26 Presidency, when she helped design and launch the Global Agriculture Policy Dialogue, co-hosted by the UK and World Bank as a peer platform for policy-makers to share experience and build ambition on reforms. Ahead of the United Nations’ Climate Action Summit in 2019, Rachel helped develop the Just Rural Transition initiative: setting the stage for increased visibility and non-state actor engagement in transition processes for a sustainable food system.

Before moving back to London, Rachel lived and worked extensively in the global South, particularly in Southern Africa, with a strong focus on inclusive rural development. She advised on agriculture and rural development programmes for Ireland, Canada and UN agencies in Mozambique. She led UK Government support to human development in Mozambique, social development in post-war DRC and growth and resilience in Uganda, also helping design and support Uganda’s first ever national social protection programme.

Her doctoral research explored the interface between gender and land rights in Mozambique and informed the development of Mozambique’s CommunityLand Rights legislation with a view to strengthening women’s land rights.

Rawlinson Naylor Oliveira Teixeira holds a Master’s degree in Governance and Innovation in Public Policy from the University of Brasília (UnB), supported by a research grant linked to the Supreme Federal Court (STF). He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the Catholic University of Brasília (UCB) and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from the Faculty of Sciences of Wenceslau Braz (FACIBRA). He also holds postgraduate specializations in Statistics, Public Management and Policy, and Higher Education Teaching. He currently serves as an Educational Public Policy Analyst at the Department of Education of the Federal District, focusing on the planning, design, and evaluation of socio-educational programs. Between 2018 and 2019, he was part of the technical staff of the Brasília Military School as a Temporary Technical Officer in Mathematics. From 2013 to 2018, he also taught in the district’s public school system. His career brings together a solid background in both the exact and human sciences, with an emphasis on educational policy, social pedagogy, and large-scale assessment. He has developed projects aimed at improving learning outcomes, fostering civic education, and promoting innovation in public management. In addition, he has experience with extension and training courses in education, organizational psychology, and the use of technology in the classroom. He is fluent in Spanish and has knowledge of French, Italian, and English.

Roberto de Goes Ellery Junior is the director of the Faculty of Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, and Public Policy Management (FACE) of the University of Brasília. PhD in Economics from the University of Brasília. Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Brasília. Researcher at the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) between 1998 and 2002. He has conducted research and/or consulting work with the Central Bank, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, IPEA, National Confederation of Industry (CNI), and Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh). Areas of research: economic growth, business cycles, public sector economics.

Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from USP (University of São Paulo), holds an MBA in Business Management from FGV (Getúlio Vargas College) and a specialization in market trends. Married, with 3 children.
Currently, CEO of Agrifirm LATAM and member of the Strategic Committee of the Royal Agrifirm Group. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of ASBRAM (Brazilian Association of the Mineral Supplement Industry) since 2016, where currently holds the position of Vice President.
He has over 28 years of experience in strategic positions in the global animal nutrition sector, working in the Americas, Europe, and Africa, developing natural solutions to support animal protein production.
Trilingual speaker on the topics: Global and Regional Trends in Food Consumption; South American Animal Protein Production Market – Profile, Trends, and Challenges; Sustainability in the Animal Protein Production Chain – The Industry’s Perspective

Rosemery Alesandra Firmino dos Santos holds a degree in Agronomy (2018) from the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro Brasileira (UNILAB), a Master’s in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2020) from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), and a PhD in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2025) from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP). She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDJ) at the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) for Low Carbon Agriculture (ABC), associated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Her research interests focus on soil carbon sequestration in agricultural and pasture systems, with emphasis on the mechanisms of soil organic matter stabilization and the interactions between soil carbon and microorganisms.

Rowan leads Climate Risk and Resilience at Howden, a leading global insuranceand reinsurance broker, andserves onthe company’s Global Leadership Team.The CRR helpsclients to derisk their climate related exposures, maintain access to capital and navigate their pathwaytowards resilience and decarbonisation. Rowan has been a pioneer in the field of climate risk and insurance for over 20 years. He brought climate modelling to reinsurance in 2006,led the foundation of the Insurance Development Forum with UN, World Bank and Industry leaders in 2015 and incubated the award-winning Coalition for Climate Resilient Investmentin 2020. Beyond insurance Rowan was appointed to the UK Prime Minister’s Council for Science & Technology 2011-2016 and served on the UK Green Finance Task Force. In 2016 he was made CBE for services to the economy for risk, insurance and sustainable growth. Rowan read Geography at Durham and Bristol Universities and lives and works in London

Ruturaj Patil is a Researcher at TCS Research, India, with over three years of industry experience in Livestock and Agricultural Technology. He holds a Master of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, specializing in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Acoustic Modelling.

His research focuses on advancing livestock welfare and sustainable agriculture through cutting-edge technologies. Ruturaj has led projects on decoding cattle vocalisations to understand behavioural patterns, hunger states, and welfare indicators, aiming to improve livestock management practices through sound-based behavioural interpretation. In addition, his work extends to sustainable crop farming, where he is engaged in carbon intensity assessment and reduction strategies to support climate-smart agriculture.

Ruturaj has published seven research papers in conferences and journals and has filed six patents in the fields of livestock technology and agricultural sustainability. His research and innovations contribute to bridging the gap between digital technologies and sustainable farming practices, with a strong focus on welfare-centric and climate-resilient solutions.

Samuel West is both a clinical psychologist and an organizational psychologist. His research at Lund University in Sweden focused on how organizations can boost innovation by encouraging playful experimentation and exploration. Samuel has consulted global organizations on enhancing creativity and innovation for well over over a decade. He is the founder and curator of the Museum of Failure. The museum’s collection of innovation failures has toured the world, it is currently in Paris. He is American and Icelandic, and lives in a small mountain village in Spain.

Saskia is a Projects Assistant & Analyst at Clim-Eat, where she works on food systems transformation through supporting projects with climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive programming. She has a MSc in Sustainable Land Management from Wageningen University and a BSc in Earth, Energy and Sustainability from Leiden University. Her background is in environmental science, soil health and policy, with research focused on landscape ecology and ecosystem services in relation to land use management. She previously worked in Kenya on sustainable rangeland management approaches tailored to arid contexts with a focus on strengthening livelihood resilience to climate change. Her interests include land use sustainability, GIS applications, and the role of agroforestry systems in advancing climate-adapted agriculture.

Sharvari Bidaye is a master’s student in Agriculture and Development at the University of Reading, UK. Her research, in association with Waitrose & Partners, explores the feasibility of regenerative agriculture and ways to overcome barriers to adoption.

Sharvari’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance, which shaped her analytical approach to agricultural systems, linking sustainability with economic viability. She is the recipient of the prestigious Felix Scholarship and has presented her research on agri-policy payments at the UK’s National Farmers’ Union headquarters Her interests extend beyond academia into hands-on farming; she founded Shar’s Microgreens, a small scale enterprise promoting the use of nutritious microgreens in the Indian diet. She is passionate about bridging science, policy, and practice to support farmers in transitioning towards climate-resilient food systems.

Sharvari’s research interests include agricultural and environmental investment models across the world. Her long-term vision is to establish a regenerative, sustainable model farm in India that serves as both a production site and a living laboratory for innovation. By leading by example, she aims to consult and collaborate with farmers in both developing and developed countries, designing profitable, climate resilient systems that enhance ecosystem services while uplifting farmer incomes.

Dr. Simone Sala is a leading international expert in the application of digital technologies for agriculture and sustainability. With extensive expertise at the intersection of digital technologies and sustainable development, he has advised governments, business companies, and civil society organizations across 20 countries spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia, and SubSaharan Africa. Originally trained in computer science at the University of Milan, Dr. Sala earned his Ph.D. from its Faculty of Agriculture, focusing on the application of ICT to food security and climate adaptation. He carried out postdoctoral research at Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution, the NewMinE Lab at Università della Svizzera italiana, and back at the University of Milan.

Dr. Sala designed and implemented information systems to support agricultural and environmental policy-making as well as digital solutions to provide advisory services to smallholder farmers and rural people in several countries. He provided strategic support to FAO and IFAD to develop their corporate digital strategies, pilot the implementation of new initiatives in this space, and formulate investments in the area of digital agriculture with partner Development Banks. He advised European Union delegates in the area of digital agriculture, supporting the development of digital agricultural strategies in Sri Lanka and Guatemala.

Since 2021, Dr. Simone Sala has been a director at Yara, where he was part of a unit tasked to

develop solutions for farm- and field-level data exchange. In 2022, this initiative evolved into Varda, a standalone company, where he led the design and development of SoilHive, an innovative platform that enables the global discovery, comparison, and exchange of soil data. In 2025 he became the Executive Director of the Varda Foundation, following its transformation into a technology nonprofit organization committed to advancing open, interoperable data systems for agriculture and the environment.

Sintayehu Alemayehu PhD is climate change and Adapation Sciensit with over 14 years of experience leading research and development projects across Africa, particularly in the IGAD region. His work focuses on climate resilience at the intersection of agriculture, environment, and society, with expertise spanning climate risk management, agri food systems, pastoralism, digital innovation, and climate-smart agriculture and finance. He has played a key role in advancing climate change adaptation and knowledge management through project leadership, innovation, and policy engagement, including contributions to planned relocation strategies and government dialogues. A prolific contributor to the global discourse, he has published tools, methodologies, policy briefs, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles, underpinned by a strong academic background in agriculture research for development and climate change.

Sintayehu holds dual BSc degrees in Computer Science and Rural Development from universities in Ethiopia, an MSc in Ecosystem Science and Management from Texas A&M University (USA), and a PhD in Climate Change and Adaptation from the University of Nairobi.

Dr. Todd Rosenstock is the Director of CGIAR Climate Action. He leads global partnerships that connect science, innovation, and real-world action to help transform food, land, and water systems in response to climate change. His focus is making sure research actually turns into results that benefit farmers, policymakers, and investors.

Before this role, he was a Principal Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, working on climate adaptation, data-driven decision-making, and mitigation in agriculture and agroforestry. He led initiatives like Adaptation Insights and the Africa Agriculture Adaptation Atlas to support countries in identifying climate risks and planning effective responses.

Earlier, Todd spent almost ten years at World Agroforestry (ICRAF) in Nairobi and Kinshasa, studying how smallholder farming and environmental change affect each other. He also contributed to CGIAR’s CCAFS program, helping scale low-emission, climate-resilient agriculture.

He has over 15 years of experience working across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and contributed to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Todd holds a PhD in Ecology and an MSc in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis.

As Policy and Impact Innovator, Wiebe aims to accelerate climate action through meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations that want to bring positive change to the world’s food system. He leads Clim-Eat’s efforts towards key global platforms such as the UN’s Climate COP and spearheads a groundbreaking climate action project in Kenya.

Previously, Wiebe worked as Program Management Officer for the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) with experiences in programme development and management, policy engagement, and administration. He studied the Master International Development at Wageningen University & Research, with a specialization in Sociology of Development and Change, and is passionate about climate change and development challenges in Africa. He chaired the first ever UNFCCC COP Food System Pavilion and has served as Co-Convener of the Enabling Environment Action Group of The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA). He also worked for the NWO (Dutch Research Council)’s WOTRO Science for Global Development department.

Xandru Cassar is an agricultural economist with experience spanning the public, private, and NGO sectors, specialising in agricultural insurance, smallholder livestock systems, and data-driven approaches. He currently serves as Chief Impact Officer at myUbuntu Insurance and Agricultural Markets and Data Officer within the Maltese Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights. He has held roles at the EU Commission, with international NGOs, and served as a delegate at COP26 and COP28.

Xandru holds a First-Class Honours degree in Agricultural Economics (BSc Hons) from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Development Practice from Trinity College Dublin, where he received the Best Overall Prize. His MSc research focused on improving the effectiveness of livestock insurance subsidies, while his undergraduate dissertation on the role of social networks in technology adoption among smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya earned the Best Dissertation Prize and contributed to a recent peer-reviewed publication.