Key Skills and Qualifications

Alan Chubb

Agricultural Consultant

KEY SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

40 years experience as a horticultural adviser, specialising in sustainable management of tree crops, especially citrus. All aspects and levels of input, including smallholder and commercial estate management,and national policy development, through short-term consultancy and long-term contracts worldwide.
Owner and manager of a successful organic vineyard in the UK, established in 2002, with hands-on experience of all aspects from production to marketing. Member of the International Federation of Organic Consultants (IFC), with close links to advisors covering a wide range of international organic and sustainable agricultural management.
Founder director of the local food development consultancy F3, with 10+ years experience of local food supply chain development, working with clients from all sectors.

WORK EXPERIENCE, including key consultancy work

2002-present: Quoins Organic Vineyard. Establishednew vineyard, with award winning wines currently sold through outlets ranging from Waitrose to local restaurants. Member of UK Vinegrowers’ Association Sustainable Production Policy Committee, funded by DEFRA/EU, to share and develop best practice from other wine producing countries among UK growers.

1996-present: Local food consultancy (UK), mainly as a member of the F3 consultancy group. Achievements includeresearch and development of farmers’ markets, from establishment of the first farmers’ market in Bath (1997-8) to marketing advice for 25+ markets throughout the UK. More recent work has focused on supply chain development, as well as support for Welsh vineyards in developing sustainable production and marketing (2010).

1996- present: Overseas consultancy has included:

-Advice on development of the Georgian citrus industry (production, smallholder extension and export opportunities) for the Georgia Ministry of Agriculture, funded by the World Bank. 2008.

- Organic adviser for HDRA Afghanistan Organic Export Feasibility Study, to develop export of Fairtrade and organic raisins to the EU. This resulted in negotiation of a successful contract for export of Fairtrade raisins to the UK. 2006-07.

- Citrus consultant, to review management of citrus estates in Belize and advise on potential for organic conversion. Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) and Citrus Company of Belize. 2004.

- Citrus consultant,advising on the conversion of 1000 ha Cost Rican citrus estate to certified organic management.CDC and Del Oro SA. This included evaluation of economic and agronomic impacts, as well as the establishment of a large-scale composting facility. Paper with final evaluation of economic aspects presented to the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM) Caribbean Conference (2004). 1997-2004.

1989-95: CDC Del Oro SA,Costa Rica. Citrus agronomist & estate manager. Responsible for planting of 3,000 ha citrus in a new area, including selection of budwood and rootstocks, establishment of citrus nursery, development of fertiliser, weed & IPPM programmes, fruit quality monitoring and harvest systems, estate reporting systems, budgeting and all aspects of management.

1988-89: Citrus consultancy including:

- China, Huntings Technical Services. To advise on development of tree crops as part of a village soil and water conservation project in S. Szechuan.

- Somalia, Landell Mills Consultants. Evaluation of a government owned grapefruit estate, and proposal for development of its role in establishing an outgrower-led citrus industry.

1983-86: Citrus agronomist, Belize. Overseas Development Administration (ODA) and Belize Citrus Growers Association (CGA). To support implementation of a $5 million CDC citrus rehabilitation loan to the 350 CGA members, covering 2,500 ha of citrus. This included bothdevelopment of individual farm plans, and overall support, such as improved research and development, provision of virus-free budwood, rootstocks etc.

1978-81: Coffee Development Officer, Southern Sudan. ODA.Establishment and management of a coffee extension and research programme, enabling the planting of 2,500 ha of robusta coffee by 3,000 farmers, with provision of support such as smallholder processing equipment and establishment of nurseries.

1972-75: Provincial Horticultural Officer,Government of Zambia. Smallholder extension advice on horticultural crops, including staff training, nursery management, and fruit tree development programme.

PUBLICATIONS

- ‘Farmers’ Markets: The UK Potential’. Eco-logic books 1998 ISBN 1899233 04 0

- ‘Commercial Organic Citrus development: post conversion’. Nov 2005 Valencia ‘International Conference of Ecological Citrus: Biocitrics’

QUALIFICATIONS

1968-71BSc Agricultural Sciences, NottinghamUniversity.

1981-82MSc Tropical Agricultural Development (Crops), ReadingUniversity.

1996-97Certificate in Organic Agriculture, Lackham Agricultural College.

Full list of consultancies available on request.