Dr Prasanna Boddupalli is the Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program and CGIAR Research Program on Maize (MAIZE). Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Prasanna has been leading CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program since 2010, and CRP MAIZE since 2015. Prasanna provides scientific oversight and leadership to a strong multidisciplinary team of maize breeders, phenotyping specialists, and seed systems teams, focused on developing and deploying high-yielding, stress resilient and nutritionally enriched maize varieties in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. He has been at the forefront in effectively tackling the maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease in eastern Africa. He is also technically coordinating CIMMYT-led multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary efforts in fighting the challenge of Fall Armyworm outbreak across Africa and Asia. With over three decades of experience in maize R&D, Prasanna has published so far more than 140 rersearch articles in international journals of repute, and over 50 book chapters/books. He has received several awards/honors for his contributions to maize research, excellence in post-graduate teaching, and human resource development.