Umezuruike Linus Opara Editor

Umezuruike Linus Opara is a Distinguished Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he also holds the Chair of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) in Postharvest Technology, and the founding Director of the Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology (AIPhT). He graduated with degrees in Agricultural Engineering (BEng, First Class Honors; MEng, cum laude) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a PhD in Agricultural Engineering from Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand and a Certificate in Innovation for Economic Development, from the Executive Education program at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA. He is a Chartered Engineer, Certified Food Scientist, and has leading memberships of several professional agricultural engineering societies, including Fellow of the International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Institution of Agricultural Engineers (UK), South African Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers, and Life Membership of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Asian Association for Agricultural Engineering, and the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Prof. Opara is currently developing the UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology in Nsukka, Nigeria, a Category II Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, for advancing biotechnology research and high-level capacity building in the Africa region in the areas of food security, tropical diseases, and bioresources conservation.