Roslyn Gleadow is a world leader in the field of cyanogenesis, the process of cyanide release from stable bioactive compounds in plants in response to herbivory. Using cyanogenesis as a model, Gleadow has integrated opposing theories of plant defence into a single overarching theory demonstrating that these bioactive compounds are intricately involved in nitrogen management within the plant, and that this is the evolutionary driver, not herbivore resistance. Her work explains why so many crop plants are cyanogenic and helps predict changes in nutritional value of plants in response to environmental challenges. She actively translates her work to impact food security, human and environmental health, and crop adaptation.