Thiago Mendes is a lead breeder scientist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Breeding. Thiago is an expert in crop breeding, with experience leading a sugarcane breeding program in Brazil, focusing on innovative strategies for faster genetic progress, and hands-on experience in field experiments. Skilled in plant science and breeding techniques, he transitioned to CIP in 2017, where he leads Potato and Sweetpotato breeding innovations for Africa from Nairobi. Thiago is also the principal investigator of the project “Crop Wild Relatives (CWR)-derived potatoes for climate change resilience of farming communities in Ecuador, Kenya and Peru”, supported by Global Crop Diversity Trust. He is dedicated to applying his diverse skills on a global scale, contributing to sustainable agriculture, and addressing challenges in crop improvement. He is particularly interested in research topics to accelerate genetic gain in Africa.