Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical

Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. We work with local, national, and multinational partners across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and with the public and private sectors and civil society. With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to sustainably transform food systems and landscapes to improve people’s lives in a climate crisis.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is one of the centers of the CGIAR, the global research partnership for a food-secure future.

Guillermo Pena

I was born in the Andean metropolis of Bogotá (Colombia). Raised as a city child in a gated community I didn’t got to know much of the diversity and cultural offer of the city behind the fence. 1997 occurred one of my most important live-moving experiences: a waste avalanche at the city´s dumpsite caused the biggest sanitary emergency in Bogotá history. I decided to study something to help fixing the environment and protect nature. After finishing secondary school I went to Germany and spent there 15 years living in Nuremberg and Aachen. I studied waste management engineering and conducted bioenergy projects as a research assistant at RWTH Aachen University. I have worked as project manager with the academy and NGOs implementing small scaled solutions (biogas plants, composting, housing construction with natural materials, PV-systems) and supporting rural communities (capacity building, management and conservation of natural resources). From 2019 to 2020 I installed a biogas test facility at CIAT and was conducting biogas trials with fruit and vegetable residues from supermarkets. In RUSTICA I will be supporting CIAT´s team on the fields of anaerobic fermentation and biochar production from organic residues.

Guillermo Pena

Mirjam Pulleman

Mirjam Pulleman is a senior Soil Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT in the Multifunctional Landscapes team, based in Colombia. She also works in the Soil Biology Group at Wageningen University. She holds a PhD in Soil Ecology from Wageningen University and an MSc in physical Geography from the University of Amsterdam.
Her research focuses on the role of soils, soil ecology and biogeochemical processes for sustainable agroecosystems, particular in tropical regions. This includes the development of knowledge on biological soil processes and soil functions, and of indicators that can be applied to inform management practices that improve soil health and food safety. Mirjam is particularly interested in working at the interface of science and application to enhance sustainability and inclusiveness of agricultural systems, with a focus on perennial crops and agroforestry systems.

Mirjam Pulleman

Sara Rankin

Sara Rankin is a Research Associate in the Food Environment and Consumer Behavior team at the Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT. She holds a BS in Communication and an MS in Project Engineering from the University of Toulouse III Jean Jaurès.
Based in Cali, Colombia, her research focuses on understanding the city’s food system to develop accessible and useful decision-support tools for decision-makers and stakeholders.
She currently coordinates the Alliance for Nutrition and Soil Management a multi-stakeholder platform to propose innovative solutions for strengthening the city-region food system. It supports the municipal strategy for sustainable economic development, which includes actions focused on promoting clean production and responsible consumption; competitive, modern, and efficient food supply systems; green business ventures that contribute to environmental sustainability; and the incorporation of diverse solutions from a circular and sustainable economy perspective.

Sara Rankin

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