Humberto Ríos Labrada

Meet Humberto

Humberto is a Cuban expert in participatory breeding and action learning and research and longtime advocate for farmer-led innovation. With a background in agricultural sciences and decades of experience working directly with smallholder farmers, he’s helped lead Cuba’s shift toward more sustainable and diverse farming systems.

As an iCRA alumni, Humberto has been involved in iCRA’s work in Latin America and beyond for more than two decades now. He supports teams and facilitators in strengthening local capacity, promoting agroecology, and fostering inclusive learning environments. His approach blends science with local knowledge, and he strongly believes that meaningful change happens when farmers, researchers, and communities work as equals.

Outside the field, you’ll likely find Humberto with a guitar in hand. A passionate musician, he’s recorded several albums and often uses music as a way to build trust, spark conversations, and connect across cultures.