Dr. Ismail is a Principal Scientist with over 30 years of experience in crop improvement, focusing on enhancing resilience to climate change and adverse environmental conditions. His work includes understanding mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance in crops and developing stress-tolerant varieties, particularly in Asia and Africa. He has led regional programs on high-yielding, climate-smart technologies and has held leadership roles, including Interim Deputy Director General for Research. Currently, he serves as IRRI’s Regional Director for Africa. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of California, Riverside, has authored over 270 publications, and received several awards for his contributions to agricultural sciences.