Dr. Cedric Habiyaremye is a food systems strategist, crop scientist, entrepreneur, and institutional advisor working at the intersection of agriculture, markets, policy, public health, and global resilience. Born in Rwanda and shaped by early experiences of hunger, displacement, and life in a refugee camp, his work is driven by a lifelong commitment to building food systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and capable of feeding and sustaining communities in a changing world.

 

Cedric currently serves as Policy Director at Food Systems for the Future Institute, where he leads policy and strategy work focused on food security, climate resilience, nutrition, economic development, and market systems. His work brings together research, policy, and partnerships to help institutions design clear, practical responses to complex challenges in food systems.

 

He is widely known for introducing quinoa to Rwanda and for expanding its adoption across several African countries as a climate-resilient, nutrient-rich crop. Prior to joining Food Systems for the Future, Cedric served as a Research Associate at Washington State University, where he led participatory research on quinoa and other climate-resilient crops in collaboration with farmers, researchers, universities, and agricultural partners across multiple countries. His work has helped position underutilized crops as tools for improving nutrition, strengthening farmer livelihoods, and advancing climate adaptation.

 

Cedric is the Founder and CEO of QuinoaHub, a multinational agribusiness advancing the research, production, and commercialization of nutritious, climate-resilient crops. In 2024, QuinoaHub was recognized by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Food Security as a VACS Champion for its work on participatory breeding, genetic diversity, and food security. He is also Founder and Managing Principal of Origencia Group, a strategic advisory and intelligence firm supporting high-stakes decision-making across food systems, climate, public health, and economic development.

 

Cedric’s leadership extends across global policy, research, and institutional networks. He has participated in White House briefings on global food security, contributed to the development of the first-ever Global Diet Quality Monitoring System, and helped shape high-level policy conversations on agriculture, nutrition, and food systems. As the youngest member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Global Agriculture Task Force, he contributed to the 2019 Global Food Security Report, which continues to inform policy discussions on global agricultural development and food security.

 

He is a Senior Fellow with the Aspen Institute’s Global Innovators Group and was selected in 2024 as a Rising Leader with the Aspen Strategy Group, joining a distinguished lifetime network of senior policymakers, defense leaders, diplomats, and thought leaders engaged in addressing some of the most pressing national security and foreign policy challenges of our time. He is also a member of the Private Sector Mechanism to the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, where he contributes to global dialogue, policy development, and discussions on food systems, agriculture, and nutrition. He also serves as a Board Member of the Healing Soils Foundation and Vice-Chair of Building Bridges with Rwanda.

 

His leadership has also been recognized through several fellowships and honors, including the World Hunger Leadership Award, the U.S. Borlaug Fellowship on Global Food Security, the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program, and the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development Fellowship.

 

Throughout his career, Cedric has collaborated with leading institutions including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), Harvard University, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Washington State University. His work has contributed to global food security research, policy dialogue, food systems innovation, and practical tools that help institutions better understand the links between food, climate, markets, nutrition, geopolitics, and human development.

 

Cedric’s story and work have been featured by Forbes, BBC, Al Jazeera, NPR, Thomson Reuters, and The Christian Science Monitor. In 2020, he delivered a TED Talk that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times and translated into 20 languages. He is also featured in Food Planet Future: The Art of Turning Food Climate Perils into Possibilities by Robert Dash, an award-winning book recognized by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and the Nautilus Book Awards.

 

Cedric holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Agronomy and Crop Science from Washington State University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science with Honors and an Advanced Diploma in Soil and Water Management from the University of Rwanda. His academic background is complemented by advanced training in geopolitics, international development, global food security, strategic communications, and participatory research. Beyond his professional work, he is committed to mentoring young leaders, supporting education, and helping emerging entrepreneurs turn ideas into meaningful impact.

 

Outside of work, Cedric finds joy in music, dancing, creative expression, and language. To him, food, rhythm, and language are bridges that connect people, ideas, cultures, and hope across humanity.