Robert Asiedu is a Director, Research-for-Development, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria. He has regional responsibility for West Africa and thematic responsibility for Biotechnology and Crop Improvement. He previously worked as Deputy Director, Program Leader, and Plant Breeder at IITA. Before joining IITA, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico. He obtained a PhD degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide, Australia. He has long experience in breeding tropical root and tuber crops in partnership with national and international programs leading, for instance, to the formal release of 18 new yam varieties to farmers by the National Root Crop Research Institute, Nigeria.