José Luis Chicoma has over 25 years of experience in policymaking, research, and network-building, bridging development, global food systems research and high-level policy implementation. His research is interdisciplinary, and he has served as Programme Chair at THE NEW INSTITUTE, leading the development of policy recommendations on agroecology, food markets, blue foods, governance, and nutrition.
Chicoma served as Minister of Production (2020-2021) and Vice Minister of Micro and Small Enterprises and Industry (2009 - 2010) of the Republic of Peru. Between 2012 and 2020 he served as Executive Director of the Mexican think-tank Ethos, which promotes development and sustainable food systems. He has also contributed to a number of international, interdisciplinary evidence-for-policy processes. As a Senior Advisor at UNDP, he contributed to shaping the agency’s global food systems strategy, and was a member of the drafting team for the HLPE-FSN’s 2024 report Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition. He has advised on food systems for various UN agencies (including UNDP and FAO) and international NGOs (such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Environmental Defense Fund).
Chicoma has taught on global food systems and served as guest editor for Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica on food and power. Actively engaged in global dialogues, he regularly presents at major conferences and plays a key role in coalition-building.
He is a national of Peru.
