Kaimian Li, a research professor at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, works at cassava germplasm resources and genetic breeding. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Chinese Cassava Agro-technology Research System. 

He has made significant achievements in the accurate evaluation of cassava germplasm resources, new varieties breeding, high-value utilization and industrialization development of cassava. As the first breeder, he has bred 5 varieties with independent intellectual property rights, and bred 11 varieties as major members. As the first or corresponding author, he has published 81 papers and 14 monographs, developed 11 national and industrial standards. He gained near 20 National and provincial-level awards, among which "Cassava Breeding and Industrial R & D Integration and Application of Key Technologies," won the second prize of the National Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and "Application and Extension of South China Series New Varieties of Cassava," won the first prize of Science and Technology Award of Hainan province. He was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award for Cassava Research" by the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC).