Mary Abukutsa is a distinguished scientist that has conducted pioneering research in African indigenous vegetables (AIVs).  Her work has had a tremendous impact on the utilization of indigenous vegetables in Africa and has led to her receipt of numerous, awards including Presidential award (EBS), Africa Union Scientific award and Edinburgh medal.   Her work has inspired consumers, producers, students, young researchers and influenced governments to consider the importance of indigenous vegetables for nutrition, health and income generation.  Her passion, coupled with her careful scientific multi-disciplinary research, have repositioned indigenous vegetables from a poor man’s crop to internationally recognized crops. She holds a BSc (Agriculture), MSc (Agronomy) and a PhD (Horticulture). She currently serves as a Professor of Horticulture and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Production and Extension) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya. She released nine (9) varieties of AIVs in 2016 and in 2018 she was nominated as a fellow of African Academy of Sciences and in 2020 she was appointed a member of African Academy of Sciences Governing Council.