Expert Details
Agriculture, Pesticides, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Crop Damage, and Postharvest Storage and Transport, Insects
ID: 726566
Florida, USA
Expert has provided expert opinions on more than 25 legal cases. Expert has wrote opinions on crop damage, post-harvest damage, spray drift, off-site pesticide damage, aerial application, post-harvest produce damage, investigated insurance claims, personal injury claims from pesticides, irrigation, crop management, global agriculture, start-ups, and import/export quality.
Examples:
1) Expert performed a detailed technical and business analysis on Jatropha curcus for the production of biofuel. The project was completed for a global forestry company, and entailed extensive travel throughout Asia and Latin America. The study was completed in less than two months and provided a very sound recommendation for this company not to pursue any further development of this crop.
2) Expert completed an analysis of the most suitable country to develop the abaca crop (Musa textilis) for a global paper company. As a result of the study, the paper company requested that he form the local production and export company for abaca fiber.
3) Expert provided expert testimony on the post harvest damage of imported garlic, substantiating the client's claim that the receiving terminal was negligent in storage temperature control and therefore liable for damages to stored garlic.
4) Expert provided key analysis for a client in a case involving alleged toxicity of a fertilizer and irrigation system in hydroponic green pepper.
5) Expert provided consulting services for a global forestry company, including market research and development in Europe and the U.S for the wood biomass/bioenergy market.
6) Expert determined the precise cause for crop injury and total crop loss of 800 acres of cucumber in Alabama.
7) Expert provided key consulting for the defense on a crop claim involving aerial spray damage to a non target wheat crop.
8) Expert was consulted in the case of aerial spray drift toxicity to field workers.
9) Expert clarified claim of damages for imported Chilean fresh table grapes due to improper storage during ocean transit.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1992 | Degree: Ph.D. | Subject: Plant Pathology | Institution: University of Florida |
| Year: 1988 | Degree: M.S. | Subject: Entomology | Institution: University of California, Riverside |
| Year: 1984 | Degree: B.S. | Subject: Entomology | Institution: Michigan State University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2016 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Director of Research & Development | Department: Agricultural Research & Development |
Responsibilities:Expert is the Global Director of Research & Development, managing technical and commercial development of new technology and providing the lead on technical services to our customers. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2010 to 2015 | Employer: Arkema | Title: Commercial Development Manager | Department: Research and Development |
Responsibilities:Managed technical services and commercial development for agriculture products in the U.S. and Mexico on vegetable crops. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2010 | Employer: Abatex | Title: Owner and Founder | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:Founded banana fiber export business in Costa Rica for European paper companies. Established startup company and formed legal, crop production, operations, and export processes. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2006 | Employer: Dole Fresh Fruit International | Title: Global Technical Manager banana phytosanitary programs | Department: Research |
Responsibilities:Technical manager for banana phytosanitary program including R&D, plantation management, crop pest management, and centralized purchasing for crop protection supplies. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1998 | Employer: ISK Biosciences | Title: Commercial Development Manager | Department: Technical |
Responsibilities:Managed company research farm in Honduras, and executed commercial development program for Central America. Conducted R&D field efficacy and registration trials in six countries for over a dozen actives. Provided sales support to regional personnel. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1984 to 1986 | Employer: Peace Corps | Title: Peace Corps Volunteer | Department: Honduras |
Responsibilities:Extension entomologist in northwest Honduras. Promoted IPM programs in Copan department, emphasizing responsible use of pesticides. Completed two years of service. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1984 to 1986 | Agency: U.S. Peace Corps | Role: Peace Corps Volunteer - Honduras | Description: Rural agriculture development in Honduras - entomology - agriculture |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2006 to Present | Country / Region: Central America + Mexico | Summary: Expert has major projects in this region spanning many years. |
| Years: 1992 to Present | Country / Region: Latin America | Summary: Many projects including ongoing |
| Years: 2007 to Present | Country / Region: Europe and Asia | Summary: Many agriculture projects including ongoing |
| Years: 2016 to Present | Country / Region: China, India | Summary: Global research and development activity |
Career Accomplishments
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Published in refereed journals Holder of one patent |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert has consulted on over 30 cases including crop injury, aerial and ground spray drift, post harvest storage losses, and pesticides. Expert has maintained close to a 50% ratio plaintiff/defendant. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Disease control on tropical and temperate crops, pest control practices, spraying equipment and methods, spray drift minimization, crop nutrition, maximizing vegetable crop yield, experimental design, statistical analysis, numerous technical seminars given on a diverse group of topics and audiences. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Expert worked with global procurement managers in Dole Foods. He was a key decision maker in decisions involving $30 million annual purchases. He has secured supply agreements and contracts with key vendors for his companies. He has analyzed and provided logistical solutions for production, storage, and transport of forest and agricultural products. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Expert understands the crop protection business, agrichemical business, banana business, pineapple business, global agricultural trade and logistics, and global forestry market extremely well. Additionally, the expert has a profound understanding of all aspects of agricultural production and operations including production and post harvest storage. Expert is highly experienced in global agriculture practices. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert is fluent in Spanish, and has traveled extensively in Latin America. Expert is highly experienced in discovering the precise causes of crop injury. Currently, Expert is the Global Director of Research and Development for an agriculture company. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Spanish | Expert has the fluency of a native, educated Spanish speaker (Level 5 out of 5 in Foreign Language Test |
Fields of Expertise
agricultural development, agricultural pesticide, agriculture, experimental agriculture, horticulture, sustainable agriculture, tropical agriculture, agricultural chemical, agricultural crop, agricultural pest, agricultural production, agricultural research, agronomy, greenhouse vegetable production, spray drift, development management, agricultural economics, agricultural management, agricultural loss management, chemical industry, drip irrigation, air spraying, sprayer, agricultural chemical formulation, pesticide application equipment, agricultural safety, fruit storage, agribusiness, plant production, environmental management, farming, hydroponic farming, pesticide application technology, cropping system, vegetable crop, fungicide-resistance management, pesticide-resistance management, landscaping, agricultural plastic, plasticulture, spraying, soil agriculture, plant nutrition, pesticide environmental effect, pesticide, pest management, hydroponics, greenhouse, fruit, forestry, farm crop, environmental chemistry, economic analysis, crop management, alternative crop, agricultural runoff, agricultural machine, agricultural chemistry