National Project Coordinator - BRAZIL

Daniela leads the implementation of activities in Brazil and collaborates with universities and national research agencies to carry out work such as determining the nutrition composition analysis of 70 underutilized fruit species native to Brazil as well as nutrition education.

National Project Coordinator - KENYA

Victor provides leadership and supports the provision of scientific evidence to encourage the integration of locally available biodiversity into local Kenyan food systems. Victor also uses this evidence to influence national and county policies for mainstreaming biodiversity.

National Project Coordinator - SRI LANKA

Whilst overseeing traditional food outlet production and sustainability, Gamini collects and coordinates to baseline data on biodiverse food composition and supports local officials and farmers to conserve biodiversity, improve nutrition and uplift livelihoods.

National Project Coordinator - TURKEY

Mrs. Salantur, an agricultural engineer form the Ataturk University, has been working with field crops research for almost 25 years. She recently joined BFN Turkey. 

Global Project Coordinator - Bioversity International

Danny provides overall leadership and technical guidance to ensure effective implementation, and that project objectives and targets are met. He ensures the successes of the BFN project influence ongoing global initiatives such as the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Programme Specialist - Bioversity International

An ecologist by training, Teresa provides scientific and technical back-stopping to the BFN Project from the global coordination unit in Rome. With a keen interest in communicating science, Teresa enjoys exploring innovative approaches to sharing project successes.

National Director - BRAZIL

Lidio contributes essential leadership to BFN, while also serving as the National Coordinator of the Plants for the Future Initiative. Lidio shares knowledge between these two programs, including information related to native plant species prioritized for different geopolitical regions of Brazil.  

National Project Manager - BRAZIL

Camila coordinates with the National Project Management Unit and all the national partners, which include representatives from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Health, Agrarian Development, Development and Fight Against Hunger.

Agronomist - TURKEY

Senior Programme Management/Liaison Officer (CGIAR/FAO) - UNEP

Nutrition & Lead Technical Officer

Ruth provides food composition expertise and advice through the FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Database, and emphasises the importance of including biodiversity as a strategy for improving nutrition to professionals when implementing their projects.

Research Consultant - Bioversity International

Aurillia is trained in agricultural economics and resource management and provides essential, on-the-ground support to the research, development, and implementation of program activities in Busia County, Kenya.

Former National Project Coordinator - Brazil

National project coordinator from 2012-2014. A Food Science professor, Deborah developed the project's initial work plan and led the first steps in project implementation. She provides insights for the food composition analysis work of native nutritious biodiversity species.

Research Fellow - Bioversity International

Nina currently assists the global coordination unit in Rome with work including policy briefs, crop database compilation, and project documentation. 

Research Fellow - Bioversity International

Eliot specialises in the anthropology of food. He joined the BFN Project in February 2018 to assist in the compilation of project legacy material.

Research Fellow - Bioversity International

With a background in nutrition and science communication, Hannah shares successes of the project using various engaging and eye-catching forms of media, and documents best practices for mainstreaming biodiversity for wide-spread accessibility and use.

US Borlaug Fellow - Kenya

Alessandra has supported activities to enhance the knowledge base, awareness and out-scaling of biodiversity for nutrition and well-being in Busia County, and carried out focus groups to investigate the perceptions of local foods and acceptability of nutrition education strategies.

Research Intern - Bioversity International

Lars has supported the BFN team by developing a policy brief and compiling state-of-the-art evidence from scientific literature for linkages between biodiversity, agriculture, nutrition, health and associated economic costs of malnutrition.

Project Intern - Bioversity International

Giulia has a background in plant biology and natural resources management. She supported the BFN team in developing guidelines to mainstream biodiversity for healthy diets and improved nutrition and helped document traditional recipes from Busia County (Kenya).