Expert Details
Avocado Fruit Production, Orchard Management and Botany, Nursery Management and Clonal Propagation Procedures
ID: 732438
Australia
He is also highly experience in management and consulting in large avocado nurseries specializing in propagation of clonal rootstocks and trees. Includes seed planting, media preparation and analysis, etiolation, grafting, auxin treatment, clonal rooting, growing on, irrigation, nutrition and orchard establishment. His areas of expertise also include nursery layout, access control and hygiene.
Expert's specialty areas also include the implementation of organic principles in organically certified avocado and other orchards. He is experienced in EC, Japanese, USDA and Australian standards. He is experienced also with conversion to organic agriculture. He provides advice on inputs allowed in organic agriculture. He is skilled in pest and disease management. He is also well versed in the manufacture of high-quality compost by Controlled Microbial Composting process.
He has consulted in general orchard management plans for avocado, mango and litchi (lychee); organic nutritional plans; tree size control strategies; CMC composting; orchard planning and establishment; clonal avocado rootstock production; and pre-purchase farm technical due-diligence reports.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1994 | Degree: Master of Science in Agriculture | Subject: Horticultural Science | Institution: University of Natal, South Africa |
| Year: 1990 | Degree: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture | Subject: Horticulture and Agronomy | Institution: University of Natal South Africa |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2012 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner, Senior Horticultural Scientist, and Horticultural Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert provided horticultural consultancy on all agronomic aspects of avocado production and nurseries, including nutritional programs, Integrated pest Management, irrigation, tree size control, fruit and tree physiology, organic farming, problem-solving, phytophthora management, soil preparation, orchard establishment, etc. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2014 | Employer: Birdwood Nursery (Australia) | Title: Senior Manager: R&D and Technical | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert's responsibilities included the testing of new producs and techniques as well as the overall management of all nursery procedures for 40+ crops. He serves as a specialist in clonal propagation of avocado rootstocks. Responsibilities included insect scouting and IPM as well as the release and management of beneficial insects. He implemented and managed all nursery certification schemes, including ANVAS, Niasa Best Nursery Practice, Niasa EcoHort, Niasa BioSecure HACCP, various ICA's. He also attended National and International Conferences. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2009 | Employer: Westfalia Technological Services (South Africa) | Title: Technical Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:He managed the company's rootstock breeding and evaluation program for the benefit of the nternational avocado industries. Expert was responsible for auditing all production certifications, including organic farming, GlobalGAP, LeafUK, Fairtrade, and Tesco Nature’s Choice/Nurture. Expert served on national industry research committees as well. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2005 | Employer: Westfalia Fruit Estates (South Africa) | Title: Commercial Horticulturist | Department: Avocado Production |
Responsibilities:Expert provided recommendations for 1200 ha of avocado and litchi orchards, including nutritional recommendations, pruning programs, orchard floor management, orchard establishment, and others. He managed 290 ha of avocado orchards. Expert was responsible for all production certifications and internal auditing, including organic farming (according to EC2092/91), GLOBALGAP, and Tesco Nature’s Choice. He researched, implemented and managed a composting unit manufacturing about 10,000 m3 compost/yr from organic residues of fruit processing factories. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 2000 | Employer: Westfalia Technological Services | Title: Research Horticulturist and Nursery Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:He conducted research into the horticultural aspects of avocado and litchi, including rootstock and cultivar evaluation, organic cultivation, and tree size control. This entailed applied research, collecting and statistically analyzing data, writing technical and scientific papers, and presentations at farmers’ days, National symposia and International Congresses. He managed country’s largest commercial avocado and mango nursery. |
|||