Alejandro Ortega-Beltran is a plant pathologist working at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). At IITA, Alejandro works on developing improved aflatoxin biocontrol technologies and expanding their use across African nations to reduce both aflatoxin accumulation in staple crops and human exposure to these potent carcinogenic toxins. He coordinates Aflasafe’s main laboratory in Nigeria and advises Aflasafe laboratories in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. He also advises Pakistan’s aflatoxin management program. Alejandro plays important roles in Aflasafe’s technology transfer and commercialization by reviewing manufacturing and commercialization strategies of investors, co-designing laboratory and manufacturing facilities and ensuring their correct construction and operation. Prior to IITA, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Davis – Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and a Graduate Student at the University of Arizona where he completed a PhD in Plant Pathology.