Herman A. Sanchez, PhD

14639 Lake Town Drive, Baton Rouge Louisiana

Summary.

Expertise in agriculture production, research, and development. Global thinker with a proven track record in increasing corporate earnings. Corporate chief research and product development officer. Expertise in biometry, experimental design, and the establishment of field research plots to overcome agriculture production constraints, to develop new markets, and to generate more efficient technologies. Execute research trials, from protocol design through hands-on execution, compile all data and produced the statistical analysis for trends and insights for product development, to completion of the test and writing summary reports. Field efficacy-tests. Apply science-based evidence information from innovative research using out-of-the-box strategies and research subjects; hydroponic field crops; domestication of native species; growth regulators, plant nutrition and crop physiology, and agriculture remote sensing technologies. Support for technical sales and sales marketing personnel in use of data and statistics in presentations, field data notes, brochures, training materials. Support the implementation of subsequent recommendations. Identify challenges and track the progress to improve the understanding the constraints adopting of new science-based practices.

Contributions to agriculture operations include the banana annual cropping systems with controlled harvesting dates and the successful use of growth regulators to control pineapple fruit size. The star contribution in farm management was moving 780 hectares in Honduras to produce fresh grapefruit, 2-3 weeks before the Spain and Israel, generating a substantial additional corporate profit per ton. Develop a system capable of producing cash crops with no external/energy inputs, through the domestications of native tree species. In the USA, the experiences are in Derby/KS producing pecans, in Florida producing field hydroponic watercress and upland and organic arugula, cilantro, mizuna, red chard, and leafy crops in AL, TN, MD, and PA; in Washington State growing certified native grasses and forbs. Chief Executive Advisor for the CEO in Saudi Arabia producing field and fruit crops in 86,500 acres irrigated with 260 center pivots under desert conditions.

Six years of research developing applied agronomic geographical information opportunities at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Remote Sensing Center at the Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division. Improve ways to identify asymptomatic conditions in crops using multispectral imaging. Correlation crop conditions (growth stage, cultural practices, nutrition, health, and stress), and crop index with image’ wavelength signatures. Scout and follow-up crop fields through the growing season, and the identification of physiological maturity (and uniformity) for early harvesting. Define pre-and post-seeding conditions -population density, and the identification of low germination areas. FAA Certified Commercial UAV pilot of fix-wing and multi-rotor, and private pilot of remote control drones.

In recent years, applying the broad experience to perform rigorous independent and unbiased monitoring and evaluations of private agriculture enterprises and projects, with the subsequence analysis and adoption of the best lessons learned. Design and manage project cycles. Use the Theory of Change principles, and the Strength Weakness, Opportunities and Treat analysis in evaluations and to develop strategic plans

EDUCATION: Ph.D., Agronomy/Crop Production & Physiology, University of Nebraska, USA

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8127163

MS, Agronomy/Soil Management, University of Nebraska, USA BS, Agriculture - Crops and Soil, University of Nebraska, USA

BS, Agronomic Engineering, Farm Management, and Irrigation, ICFES/UNAL.

Skills.

•  Strong sense of urgency, integrity, and entrepreneurial spirit.

•  Sensitivity, creativity, and resourcefulness as a problem solver.

•  On-time performer. Mentor, motivating others. Detaille oriented.

•  Communicate concepts to technical and non-technical counterparts

•  Adapt easy to new places and enjoy learning from new cultures. Good sense of humor.

•  Languages: Bilingual/Bi-cultural Spanish/English with simultaneous translation skills; basic French.

Professional certification and registration.

·  Certified Crop Advisor –CCA # 34269 and Certified Professional Agronomist – CPAg. 12/2019

·  FAA Certification: Commercial Drone Pilot – Fix wings. 2/2020

•  Contract/Agreement Officer’s Representative –-COTR/AOTR

•  Business Retention and Expansion International Consultant – BREI

•   National Institutes of Health certification: How to protect participants in human research 3/2019

•  Basic CPR, Defibrillator, Life Support, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen. 2/2020

Geographical experience.

In the USA lived and worked in Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Washington, Montana, and Oregon.

International/resident assignments in Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. Short technical services in El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Panama, Bolivia, and Belize. Bangladesh, and the Philippines, Jordan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Puntland, Somalia, Mali, and Ukraine.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2005-Present. Senior Managing Director and Senior Advisor, OneGrower LLC, Global

Respond individually and in teams to technical and business service requests by the private sector and contractors. Agriculture production, soil/water management, product development with competitive value chains to increase profitability. Corporate chief research and product development officer, and head of the remote sensing development efforts. Execute research trials, from protocol design through hands-on execution, compile all data and statistical analysis for trends and insights for product development, to completion of the test and writing summary reports.

OneGrower is managed and operated by seasoned experts in agronomy, horticulture, business, and remote sensing.  The expertise is gained through specialized training, practical experience, and globally recognized credentials. The company owns and operates two fix-wing "Lancaster-5" drones with visual, multispectral, thermal, and LIDAR sensors, flown by certified FAA UAVs pilots, insured and members of AMA.  Corporate focus on research, development, and technical support to agriculture producers and consultants; strategic planning and assessments; environmental impact analyst; research and product development; and monitoring, evaluation, and oversight reviews. 

•  Lead 73 technical and research assistance assignments in agriculture production, soil, water and watershed management.

•  Use remote sensing technologies and multispectral analysis for monitoring, verification, and research evaluations. Multispectral/Hyperspectral/Thermal, Lidar sensors. Use infiltrometers and sab-flow stress tests.

•  Performed four impacts and eight performance evaluations on agriculture production initiatives.

2014-2015. Chief Executive Advisor, Tabuk Agricultural Development Co., Global. Report to the CEO. With 35,000 hectares /86,500 acres produce potatoes, onions, garlic, field corn, wheat, and alfalfa irrigated with 260 center pivots under desert conditions and 3,800 hectares with table grapes pear, apricots, peach, and nectarine, grown under drip irrigation. Define must field practices to follow. Lead the research efforts to implement new technologies to "Make a good agriculture company work better." Achievements: (1) Defined technical limitation and evaluated research needs to improve productivity, quality of products, reduce operation costs, and increase profits. (2) Develop protocols for agricultural research initiatives to expand profitability, through the introduction of better seeds, fertilization based on soil and leaf analysis, efficient weed management, and by minimizing water use. (3) Reviewed the strategic planning to identify the technology initiatives that TADCO must implement to increase profitability. (4) Led in the field the adoption of best agriculture and managerial practices. (5) Identified emerging technology trends and benchmarks for improved production efficiency, quality for enabling the SBUs to succeed. (6) Assess fitness of technical, management & staff to positions occupied, and lead the search for highly qualified technical and managerial personnel.

2011-2012. USAID Senior Agriculture Development Officer, Herat Badghis, Farah, Ghowr -Afghanistan. Oversee on-site and remote monitoring for USAID agricultural projects in Regional Command West.

Report and map of field activities by contractors. Accomplishment: (1) Led the three main initiatives to enhance the income generation of farmers by increasing capacity to access a new market, the formation of small associations owned by women. (2) Five partnerships with local NGOs, PVOs, and international agencies including the World Bank, the European Union Commission, and World Food Program. (3) Coordinate a non-formal network of international donors (Italian Cooperation and WB), USDA, NGOs, and local associations working with silkworms and with organic Saffron to raise profits by improving the harvesting, processing, quality, and packing. (4) Pro-active participant in the 2012 diplomatic effort with the Turkmenistan diplomat core in Herat to allow the transit of Tajikistan wheat required by the WFO.

2010-2011. COP and Chief Technical Advisor, Horticulture Coop Development Project, Afghanistan. Provide technical, managerial, and strategic planning to support the development and strengthening of horticultural cooperatives in Afghanistan. Achievements: (1) Designed and implemented a large science-based research program in horticulture. Generated 122 documents in English Dari and Pashto in crop production, accounting, finances and management, marketing, quality/food safety control and introducing value added. (2) Proposed nine agricultural policies and concept papers to promote private agribusiness enterprises, introduced value chain economic practices to reduce poverty and evaluated capacity building within the government. (3) Inventory and classify the cooperatives by their activity and actual functional existence. (4) Develop and Implement, among active coops, twelve workshops in coops formation and regulations; governance, participation and transparency, preparation of grant research proposals; and horticulture production systems (wheat, table grapes, fruit tree crops, potatoes, onions, carrots, forages, corn, and beans.

2008-2009. General Manager & Head of Field Operations, Herman Northwest Farms and L&H Seeds Inc. The USA. Re‐engineer with a new management transition the grower's sector to operate 7,200 acres of land producing certified native grasses & forbs seeds. Produce wheat, lentils, potatoes, corn, and sunflowers in rotation cycles. Accomplishments: (1) Restructured the field operations and redefined the field research priorities to improve critical operations, efficiency, and to increase quality yield and profits - weed management to expand the crop cycles, fertilization and plant nutrition programs responding to soil analysis and recommendations, and irrigation responding to crop growth stages. (2) Reorganized the field scouting, and introduce GAP, IPM, and sustainable agriculture principles in the daily decisions. (3) Support the improvement of the seed processing plant. Pack certifies grasses & forbs.

2007-2008. USAID Senior Economic Advisor - Agricultural Sector, PRT Kirkuk, Iraq. Supported the US Government Mission in Iraq to develop agriculture as the primary engine for economic growth in the Kirkuk Province and Kurdistan Region. Achievements: (1) Developed the strategy and conceptual map to promote the economic development of the agricultural sector for the local USAID/RTI Local Governance Program-II. (2) Led eight simultaneous and sustained institutional capacity building efforts with the Ag – DGs office, Provincial Agricultural Subcommittee, and Ag Task Force, and to two coops and three NGOs.

(3) Organized guided and strengthened an inter-segment thinktank group with 8 Provincial Council members, 4 Directorate Generals, two members of the university, four agricultural unions/associations, and three representatives from the private sector; Kurdish, Turkman, Sunnis, Shias, Christians fully represented, including three women. (4) Produced 19 agriculture research grant proposals; QRF totaling USD 2.8 million funded 16. Designed for the Kurdistan Ministers of Economics and Agriculture a $1.5 million value-added agribusiness research and development project for the Sulaymaniyah Province to pre-cool, process, pack, store, and export fresh apples, pears, and pomegranates to the Middle East and Europe produced by 15,200 small farmers in associations managing 122,000 acres.

2005-2006. Senior Head Grower, B& W Quality Grower Inc, USA. Year-round production of hydroponic watercress and leafy crops, arugula, wild rocket, mizuna, red chard, cilantro, and organic production in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Achievements: (1) Re-engineered growing structure and trained on growing consistent, safe, high-quality crops. (2) Increased watercress production by two cropping cycles. (3) Reduced the operational time between harvest with early weed management right after harvesting, improve water use efficiency producing crops with efficient designs, and improve the fertilization program responding to soil analysis. (4) Reduced pesticide use by prioritizing detection of insect and disease at the earliest stages; improved weed management.

2002-2005. Agriculture & Natural Resource Agent, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service -USA. Lead the research, education efforts, and technology transfer to improve productivity in sustainable farming systems of 300+ farmers. Transfer science bases recommendations to farmers.

Achievements: (1) Provided training in (i) Master Cattle Certification; 1/year. (i) Forage production and management. (iii) NOP/USDA certification regulations; 2/year; (iv) Conduct the agricultural field day; (v) Led, the training by one CES Specialist and organize the monthly meeting of each of the five sponsored community organizations; participated as technical advisor. (2) Empowered the agricultural community in proactive organizations to support new and better public policies: (a) Agricultural Advisory Council; (b) Agricultural Development Board; (c) Agribusiness Network; (c) Louisville Ag Club – 501c3; (d) Louisville Cattlemen Association, and; ( e ) Kentucky Shitake Growers. (3) Pro-actively provided technical field support to growers of tobacco, corn, sorghum, soybeans, shitake, and forages. (4) Developed the first Extension Organic Program. (5) Represented the State of Kentucky at the USDA “Urban Extension Task Force” in 2002 & 2003, Extension opportunities between rural and urban sectors. (6) Advisor 2002-05 at Board of Directors of the Kentucky Exposition Center, managing 46 main events every year.