Speakers

Ryan Barrett

Ryan Barrett is the Research & Agronomy Specialist with the Prince Edward Island Potato Board in Canada. In this role, he coordinates local and national research projects with diverse partners as well as conducting on-farm research trials with PEI potato growers. Ryan graduated with a B.Sc. (Agr) from the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture in Nova Scotia and an M.Sc. from the University of Guelph in Ontario. He has worked with the PEI Potato Board since 2012 after previously working in the purebred dairy cattle industry. As well, he continues to be involved in his family’s dairy farm, breeding registered Milking Shorthorns. Ryan is Professional Agrologist and serves as the President of the PEI Institute of Agrologists. He is also a Certified Crop Advisor for the Atlantic Provinces and serves on the Board of Directors for the Potato Association of America and as Chair of the Canadian Potato Council's Research Working Group.

Adrian Cunnington

Adrian has worked in potato storage since the mid-1980s.
He joined the team at the UK’s specialist potato storage research centre at Sutton Bridge when it was run back then by the Potato Marketing Board as a junior technician. He became Head of Site in the 1990s and remained in post under the British Potato Council, and subsequently the AHDB, until it was closed following the collapse of the UK’s potato levy system in 2021.
Over those three decades Sutton Bridge was at the forefront of research and knowledge transfer to the UK industry and also developed a strong reputation carrying out dedicated contract research for private clients from around the world. Adrian spent much of his time in recent years developing programmes for best practice development for growers and store managers. He co-authored the first Potato Store Managers’ Guide back in 2001 and wrote the most recent, third edition for AHDB in 2019.
Adrian was closely involved in the European Association for Potato Research for many years, chairing or co-chairing the Post-Harvest Section from 2006-2014. He first presented at World Potato Congress in 2006 and was part of the organising team for the 2012 Congress in Edinburgh.
After the loss of Sutton Bridge, Adrian established Potato Storage Insight as an all-encompassing consultancy on potato storage. PSI places a lot of focus on training to pass on key skills and continues to advise the British industry, which stores around three million tonnes of potatoes annually, on best practice and storage optimisation.
Adrian was a member of the CIPC Stewardship Group in the UK from 2008-2020, co-ordinating the managed retention of the sprout suppressant chemical until its withdrawal in 2020. He now works closely with many of the new products which have been adopted in its place.

Dr. Dave Douches

David S. Douches, with over 40 years of experience in potato breeding, genetics and biotechnology, has an active potato breeding program directed toward the development of improved cultivars in Michigan for 35 years. The focus of the program is to develop new cultivars for Michigan’s potato industry by integrating genetic engineering/ gene editing with conventional breeding efforts. Key traits targeted for improvement Colorado potato beetle resistance, disease resistance to scab, late blight, PVY, blackspot bruising and chip processing from long-term storage. He is also director of the USAID-funded Global Biotech Potato Project for Africa and South East Asia.

Dr. Guy Hareau

Guy Hareau is Principal Scientist at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru. He has experience as farmer and as extension agent prior to beginning his research career at the National Agricultural Research Institute of Uruguay (INIA), where he worked for 17 years. In 2008, he joined CIP as impact assessment scientist, holding various responsibilities to provide evidence of the organization’s contribution to reduce poverty and hunger around the world under. Between 2016 and 2023, he was the Leader of the Social and Nutritional Sciences Division at CIP. He has a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Virginia Tech, USA.

Dr. Paul Horne

Dr Paul Horne is an entomologist and since 1996 has been owner and director of IPM Technologies Pty Ltd, based in Hurstbridge, Victoria, Australia.He has worked on IPM in potato crops throughout Australia for over 30 years and also on IPM in potato crops in New Zealand and Yemen. A strong focus has been the implementation and adoption of IPM strategies. Paul has written several books on insects and IPM (the two most important co-authored with Jessica Page) and two guidebooks to insects in potato crops in Australia as well as contributing chapters to two recent international potato publications.

Prof. David Hughes

David is Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London. He's lived & worked in 4 continents. Now based in UK, in history he was co-owner of a branded fresh produce business in Florida, USA. He talks around the globe about food industry trends.

Wachira Kaguongo

Mr. Wachira Kaguongo is an agricultural economist, working with National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) as chief executive officer. NPCK is a Public-Private Partnership Organization, with the goal of transforming potato subsector into a robust, competitive and self-regulating industry. Previously, Mr. Wachira worked with International Potato Centre (6 yrs), International Livestock Research Institute (3 yrs) and International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (6 yrs). He is an International Advisor for World Potato Congress Inc., the Deputy National Chairman of the Kenya National Farmer’s Federation and a member of the board of Agricultural Food Authority in Kenya.

Steven Lapidge

Steven is the creator and CEO of End Food Waste Australia, which incorporates the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre. The organisation is the lead agency in Australia’s fight to halve food waste by 2030 in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Target 12.3. His career has focused on industry-based science and commercialisation across the wildlife, agri-food and sustainability fields. Steven's qualifications include a PhD and an MBA. He is a Champions 12.3 member, Fulbright Professional Business/Industry Fellow, Governors Leadership Foundation Fellow, and an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate.

Charles Miller

With a focus on revenue generation and strategic alliance building, my expertise in the seed industry drives me to address the global challenge of food security. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, I strive to shape a sustainable and well-nourished future for communities worldwide. Before joining Solynta, Charles worked for Chromatin Inc. where he led the company's international business development and sales as Vice President. Prior to working with Chromatin, he was a principal at the sorghum company MMR Genetics/Richardson Seeds. After its acquisition by NuFarm, he became the Global Development Manager for the sorghum business. Prior to that, Charles worked for Mars, Inc. for many years where he gained deep experience in trading, logistics, and treasuries. Currently, Miller is serving on the Board of Directors of the African Seed Trade Association, is vice Chair of the plant breeding and innovation committee and serves on the American Seed Trade Association’s international executive committee.

Jemma O'Hanlon

As an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, consultant and presenter, Jemma’s mission is to inspire health and happiness through food. Jemma’s career spans almost two decades across the food production, foodservice, food manufacturing and public health sectors, and as a trusted voice of authority, Jemma is often called upon by the media for her opinion on topical nutrition matters. An experienced director and former Vice President of Dietitians Australia, Jemma is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. When she’s not in the kitchen you’ll find her hiking out in nature or taking her energetic kelpie for a run.

Dr. Monica Parker

Monica L. Parker PhD is passionate about delivering science to realise the impacts potato can have from individual households to national level economies. She has supported potato sector development through partnerships with governments, and public and private, community and farmer institutions in more than 10 countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. She is particularly passionate about the ‘left behind’ countries, the likes of Eritrea, Niger, Sudan, Yemen plus many more high potential areas.As a Senior Scientist with the International Potato Center (CIP), Monica was based out of Kenya for 10 years, and resumed remote work in Canada last year. Her career spans greater than 15 years in agriculture and food systems development in Africa, primarily horticulture and more than 10 years in the potato sector. Bringing a multi-disciplinary approach, her work encompasses technical and project leadership, strengthening partnerships, and program growth. Originating from Canada, she completed her MSc (1999) from Simon Fraser University and PhD (2012) from the University of Guelph, both in Plant Pathology. Monica and CIP are very excited for a partnership under the Declaration of Dublin contributing to institutional capacity development at all levels of the potato sector.

Cedric Porter

Cedric Porter is the Editor of World Potato Markets, an essential weekly briefing for potato professionals. He is Vice Chair of charity Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), a director of a UK potato farm, a correspondent for Farmers Guardian magazine and a member of the UK's Trade & Agriculture Commission.

Blair Richardson

Blair Richardson has fulfilled the responsibilities as CEO and President of Potatoes USA since 2013. On behalf of Potatoes USA and the potato industry, Blair sits on several produce and potato industry boards, including the Alliance for Potato Research and Education, the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation, the Alliance for Food and Farming, and others. Mr. Richardson actively engages in issues of importance to the potato industry and is passionate about the need to proactively protect and defend the reputation of the potato. He is a strong proponent of aggressive advocacy and marketing tactics. Prior to this, Blair served in similar positions with other private and industry organizations in California and has been an active farmer of both almonds and cherries while he was CEO/Partner of a large grower/packer/sales company specializing in fresh stone fruit, grapes, and citrus. Mr. Richardson sold his last farm in California in 2021, which capped 32 years of working and/or farming in the state that began in 1989 with a ten-year career in the California cotton industry.

Florence Rossillion

Florence Rossillion has been involved in the potato sector for 10 years. She has spent a large part of her career in relation to agricultural sector and food industry, mainly in interprofessional associations. As Director General of the Interprofessional Committee for Fresh Potatoes in France, she manages relations between producers, traders, packers and retailers to establish action agreements in terms of agronomic research, economic studies, quality assessment potatoes, development of consumption and communication. She is also involved in lobbying for the potato sector in France and Europe. Florence Rossillion has a master degree in international political relations and management.

Albert Schirring

Albert Schirring, born on the 14th March 1960 at Emmen (Netherlands), studied agronomy at the Agricultural High School in Groningen from 1977-1981. He finished the Wageningen University in 1989 and graduated on Plant Pathology majoring on fungicide resistance management and control strategies for soil born pathogens.Schirring started his professional career in the crop protection industry in 1987 at Schering Aagrunol B.V. in the Netherlands heading the development department for horticultural and vegetable crops. In 1992 he moved into a marketing position for vegetable and horticultural crops in the AgrEvo organization.From 1996-2000 he worked as crop manager for vegetable and horticultural crops in the region North-West Europe representing the United Kingdom, Benelux, Germany and the Nordics. After the formation of Aventis in 1999, he moved to Global Marketing department in Lyon to assume a position as global product manager for potato and vegetable fungicides. At the end of 2002 after the formation of Bayer Crop Science he assumed the position of team lead in fungicides for Potato & Vegetables. Since than he held different positions related in that field including strategic business management of vegetables and potatoes.

Mario Tenuta

Mario Tenuta (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.), P.Ag., is the Natural Science and Engineering Council/Western Grains Research Foundation/Fertilizer Canada Senior Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Stewardship and Professor of Applied Soil Ecology at the University of Manitoba. His training includes a B.Sc. in Botany and Physical Geography (Toronto), an M.Sc. in Soil Fertility (Guelph), a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (Western), and Post-Doctoral research in Plant Nematology (UC Davis). The 4R Industrial Research Chair Program is advancing research in nitrogen fertilizer management practices to give farmers and the agricultural industry solutions to achieving nitrous oxide (N2O) emission reductions and improved soil health and crop productivity. A key feature of the Chair program is conducting farm-based research with particular attention to the outreach of findings to farmers, industry and policy-makers to achieve national target reductions in emissions of N2O and position towards a path of net-zero food production.

Chunzhi Zhang

Chunzhi Zhang, Principal Investigator, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (AGIS, CAAS). She is a potato geneticist and breeder, specialized in hybrid potato breeding. In 2014, she obtained her PhD degree from CAAS. From 2014 to 2019, she did a postdoc in AGIS, working on self-incompatibility and inbreeding depression in diploid potato. Since 2019, she worked in AGIS as a PI. Her group is dedicated to reinvent potato from a tuber-propagated tetraploid crop into an inbred line-based diploid crop propagated by seeds. To achieve this goal, they overcame self-incompatibility in diploid potato by genome editing (Nat Plants, 2018) or using of the Sli gene (Nat Commun, 2021), and deciphered the genetic basis of inbreeding depression (Nat Genet, 2019). Based on these, they developed the first generation of pure inbred lines and F1 hybrids (Cell, 2021), and analyzed the multi-omics bases of potato hybrids (JIPB, 2022). At present, her group focus on studying the genetics of desirable agronomic traits and development of new breeding tools to accelerate the improvement of potato.