Umezuruike Linus Opara

... a Tier-1 South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the National Research Foundation during which he successfully completed the maximum 3-cyles.

He is Emeritus Distinguished Professor in the Department of Food Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he held the positions of Research Professor, Distinguished Professor, and founding Director of the Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology. He was a Tier-1 South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the National Research Foundation during which he successfully completed the maximum 3-cyles. During this period, he established a state-of-the-art research laboratory, supervised and graduated over 70 PhD/MSc/MEng students across different departments and faculties, and established key networks and industry-funded research and innovation programmes.
He is currently the foundation Executive Director of the International Centre for Biotechnology, located at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO with a mandate to conduct research and training in biotechnology related to food security, tropical diseases and associated bioresources conservation. Additionally, his activities focus on building the human, infrastructural, and institutional research capacity of Nigeria and Africa at large in the areas of agricultural and food systems engineering for sustainable socio-economic development and industrialization.
His academic qualifications include degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (BEng Honours First Class Honours; MEng), Massey University, New Zealand (PhD) and Certificate in Innovation for Economic Development, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA. He is a Chartered Agricultural Engineer (UK) and Certified Food Scientist (USA). He has over 36 years career in academia, research, and international development practice in Australasia, Middle East and Africa and has held visiting professorship positions in Africa and Asia and is a highly sought-after thought leader.
He is an “A-Rated Scientist” by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa – awarded to researchers recognized by international peers as leading experts in their fields, with their recent work showing high quality and impact. In 2019 and 2021, respectively, Prof. Opara was honoured as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by the Web of ScienceTM Group – awarded to scientists recognized globally for having significant, broad influence in their field, demonstrated by publishing multiple papers that rank in the top 1% by citations over the past decade. He is a Laureate of the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Prize for Life & Earth Sciences – the highest prestigious award by African Heads of State honoring outstanding African senior scientists for significant and sustained achievements; the Inaugural Laureate of the AFRICA Research Excellence Award by AFREXIMBANK/FARA; Winner of the Impact Research and Science in Africa (IMPRESSA) Award by the Regional Universities’ Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM); recipient of the Distinguished Researcher award by Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman, among others. He has over 500 peer-reviewed publications in international journals and book chapters, with H-Index of 81 and >25,500 citations (Google Scholar).
His professional leadership positions include Past President of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR) and founding President of the Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering (PASAE/AfroAgEng). He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa; Fellow of several academies and professional societies including the African Academy of Science, Institution of Agricultural Engineers (UK), International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers; and Life Member of the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, Asian Association for Agricultural Engineering and Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers.