New IPI Coordinator for sub-Saharan Africa At the start of 2009, Dr. Georg Ebert joined the IPI team to be the Coordinator for sub-Saharan Africa. Working in the region will broaden IPI's existing activities on the continent, which have previously been focused in North Africa.
Born in Cologne, Germany, Dr. Ebert has a rich academic career. After his studies in Agricultural Sciences, he spent a practical year on-farm before completing his PhD on "Influence of internal and environmental factors on root respiration of apple trees", in 1988 at the Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Bonn University, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Fritz Lenz. After completing his PhD studies, Dr. Ebert became a researcher at the Fruit Science Department of Humboldt University, Berlin, and, in 2000, he was appointed head of the department. In this position, he conducted research and lectured in fruit science and plant physiology, as well as supervising 40 MSc and BSc students and five PhD projects. He has had more than 85 papers in peer review journals and also two books published.
In 2005, Dr. Ebert joined the agricultural advisory service of the marketing department at K+S KALI GmbH in Kassel, Germany, where he is responsible for the agricultural advisory activities of the company in West Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Ebert's experience and expertise are much needed for IPI's work in sub- Saharan Africa. The activity in this continent will be focused on advanced nutrient management practices in key crops for export and for improving food security. Dr. Ebert will seek to initiate collaborative work with in-country researchers and extension providers in line with IPI's strategy of working with local partners. He will also participate in joint research projects with other international organisations operating in the region.
Since 2008, IPI has been active in an international project in Mozambique, which aims to improve maize farmers' incomes and strengthen related markets. The newly-formed sub-Saharan Africa coordination led by Dr. Ebert is an important step towards IPI's increased involvement and partnership in Africa, where we strive to realise better incomes for farmers and assist in achieving food security.
Dr. Ebert can be reached at georg.ebert@kali-gmbh.com c/o K+S KALI GmbH, Bertha-von-Suttner-Strasse 7, D-34131 Kassel, Germany
