Augusto Becerra
Deputy Director General at ICARDA
Luis Augusto Becerra Lopez-Lavalle, PhD is Deputy Director General – Research at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), based in Rabat, Morocco.
He is an international agricultural research and innovation leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing science, strategy, and institutional transformation across global research-for-development organizations. His current work focuses on strengthening dryland agriculture, climate resilience, resource mobilization, and organizational effectiveness across complex, multi-country environments.
Previously, he served as Chief Scientist at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai and held senior leadership roles at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), where he led major crop improvement and innovation programs. He also held leadership roles in the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), helping shape cross-center research strategy and innovation across multiple crops and regions. Earlier in his career, he held scientific roles at CSIRO in Australia.
Recognized for combining scientific excellence with strategic leadership, he has built multidisciplinary teams, shaped research portfolios, and helped position institutions for growth and impact. Outside work, he enjoys playing tennis, reading history, and spending quality time with family and friends.
