Mal***odd

Agribusiness, Agriculture

Principal at Cold Cubed - Solutions for cold chains

• Location: Cape Town Area, South Africa
• Duration: 2010 to Present
• Description: Consultant in the discipline of cold chains and the management and introduction of supporting technologies. Specific skills in the harvesting, packaging, cooling, distribution and supply chains for fresh produce. Founded a consultancy called Cold Chain Solutions providing expertise and problem solving to local and international businesses in post harvest, cold supply chains, refrigerated shipping and handling, cold storage and associated technologies. Current clients include the deciduous and citrus industries as well as local supermarket groups (Pick n Pay and Woolworths) and one based in the UK (J Sainsbury's). Conduct forensic analysis of insurance claims on distressed consignments of fruit for export companies and insurance companies. Associate member of Cafeine Retail; developed a diagnostic tool registered as Coldcubed™ (http://coldcubed.co.za/#av_section_2) used to create thermal maps of cold stores and chains to identify problems and guide remedial interventions. An innovation for product temperature measurement along the supply chain is in proof of concept stage.

Programme Manager at Post Harvest Innovation Programme

• Location: Cape Town
• Duration: Oct 2008 to Oct 2010
• Description: Managed a public/private partnership (Department of Science and Technology / Fresh Produce Exporters Forum) to innovate the South African fruit export supply chain. Managed initiatives and projects to improve the global competitiveness of the export fruit value chain. Appointed in 2008 as an honorary "Associate Professor Extraordinaire" in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, involving undergraduate teaching, postgraduate supervision and research. Managed the research portfolio "Cold Chain and packaging research" for Citrus Research International and participated in multiple steering committees and consortia for industry initiatives.

Cold Chain Specialist at PPECB | Perishable Products Export Control Board

• Location: Cape Town
• Duration: Jan 2004 to Oct 2008
• Description: Manager of the R&D programme. Sixty percent position at the Perishable Products Export Control Board as the Cold Chain Specialist, tasked with raising the standard of the South African export cold chain and managing and reinvigorating the organisation's R&D programme. Work included R&D to improve systems, technologies, equipment and infrastructure to support the fruit export cold chain. Spent remaining time as Programme Manager of the Post Harvest Innovation Programme funded to increase competitiveness of the industry through innovation.

Consultant at Private Consultant

• Duration: Dec 2001 to Jan 2004
• Description: Consultant in fruit logistics, storage and transport technologies. Main client was Thermo King Corporation; worked on development and marketing of modified/controlled atmosphere systems and their applications in refrigerated shipping transport systems.

Technical Manager: Research and Development at Unifruco Research Services (Pty.) Ltd | Capespan

• Duration: 1983 to 1995
• Description: Responsible for managing all aspects of the Research Department (20 graduate scientists in entomology, plant pathology and postharvest physiology). Focused on improving post-harvest quality of South African deciduous export fruits through developing new techniques, handling and storage procedures and adoption of relevant technologies.