Get to know us

Dr Mohyuddin Mirza

Green House

Edward Kofi Biney

agronomist

Prof Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo

climate smart agriculture/ipm

Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko, PhD, PAg

Founder / Sustainable Agriculture and Food systems

Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko

Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko is a scientist, researcher, and advisor with extensive experience in plant sciences and crop protection. His work is driven by a commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and improving food systems through science, innovation, and practical solutions for farmers.

Kwesi earned his PhD in Agricultural Botany from the University of Reading, England, where he specialized in the physiology and management of crops under diverse environmental conditions. Over the course of his career, he has worked in Africa, Asia, and North America, gaining unique insights into both tropical and temperate production systems. He has held research and advisory roles at world-renowned institutions including the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Kenya.

In addition to his research, Kwesi has written two books and contributed to numerous projects that integrate modern science with practical, field-level application. His work spans agronomy, crop physiology, greenhouse systems, integrated pest management, and crop diversification. He has been instrumental in introducing new crops, developing strategies for weed and pest control, and advancing the use of natural health products and biofuel crops such as Miscanthus.

His crop management expertise includes major staples and industrial crops such as rice, sorghum, millet, corn, cassava, plantain, banana, and sugarcane. Kwesi’s approach combines scientific rigor with an understanding of local realities, ensuring that innovations are practical, efficient, and tailored to the needs of farmers and agricultural enterprises.

Through his consultancy, Kwesi brings together research insights, on-the-ground experience, and a network of global experts to deliver solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and profitability in agriculture.

Areas of Expertise

• Agronomy & Plant Physiology

• Crop Management (rice, sorghum, millet, corn, cassava, plantain, banana, sugarcane)

• Greenhouse Systems & Energy Efficiency

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Crop Diversification & New Crop Introductions

• Weed Control & Pest Management Strategies

• Natural Health Products in Agriculture

• Biofuel Crops (including Miscanthus)

Beyond research and consultancy, Kwesi is passionate about mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists. He believes that nurturing young talent is essential to creating resilient food systems and ensuring a sustainable agricultural future. His vision is to help shape farming that not only feeds communities today but also preserves the environment and resources for future generations.

Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza Greenhouse

Dr. Mirza is an accomplished and visionary scientist whose practical research has invaluably impacted the greenhouse industry in Alberta. Recognized as a pioneer in introducing hydroponics production to greenhouse crops, this educator, mentor, researcher, writer, and problem solver had played a pivotal role in building the greenhouse industry from $25 million a year in 1980 to over $160 million in 2014. Dr. Mirza has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his decades of work within Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. As a founding member of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association and adjunct professor at the University of Alberta, Dr. Mirza has been credited with inspiring new entrants into the industry. In the 1980s, he helped introduce soilless crop production, an innovation that significantly contributed to the industry's growth. Many say Dr. Mirza is best known as a friend to growers. Always reachable, he constantly provided time to teach and share with growers. According to one former student whom Dr. Mirza inspired to start his own greenhouse business, “helping others succeed is their passion.”

Edward Biney

Edward is a bilingual agronomist (English/Spanish) trained in crop production technology and soil management. He holds a Master’s degree in Agronomy and has a professional background that encompasses Research and Development, Crop Development, and Agricultural Retail. His professional experience includes research agronomy in various traditional and non-traditional crops in the Caribbean, breeding agronomy with key crops in the Canadian Prairies, and management, Extension services, and Sales in Agricultural retail in Canada and the USA.
He is a designated Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) with the Alberta Institute of Agrologists and a Certified Crop Science Consultant (CCSC) in Canada. Edward is very multi-culturally aware, having lived and worked in 5 different countries. He has had significant exposure in Crop Production Technology at the International Agricultural Centre (Wageningen, Netherlands). As a research Agronomist, he contributed immensely in introducing a new and improved Pumpkin variety into the Caribbean and international export market. Canadian agriculture and the oilseed market have benefited from his role as a Breeding Agronomist at Bayer Crop Science, where he introduced numerous canola varieties into the oilseed market, including the pod-shatter reduction variety.

In his role as General Manager at the United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative (UFA), he drove business development by applying relevant knowledge and experience in field crop agronomy to help growers increase their production. He worked with the largest family-owned plant nursery in the USA as an Extension/Sales Agent, disseminating product knowledge and relevant plant management practices to residents/clients in vegetables, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs. He has published crop research findings in renowned agricultural journals, coupled with presentations at conferences/seminars in other parts of the world.
His significant contributions (technical and language skills) to intergovernmental Science and Technology bilateral cooperation select committees, comprised of professionals from various sectors, are worth mentioning.

Key Expertise
· Plant science; soil management
· Project and research trial management; Breeding agronomy programs
· Generation and transfer of sustainable production and technological packages to crop producers
· Business Development / Management in Ag retail
· Multi-disciplinary team approach in coordinating, developing and implementing projects
· Crop management: Pumpkin; Canola; Wheat; Onions; Honey dew/Cantaloupe; Papaya; Kenaf; Sorrel; Rhodiola; Jerusalem Artichoke.

Prof. Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo

Prof. Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the School of Science, Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Rongo University. Holds a PhD in Life Sciences from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel. His research interests are in “Emerging Alternative Systems for Insect Disease Vectors and Pest Control” with special attention to Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis (Bti) entomocidal proteins, and expression of the same by recombinant model systems, and Integration of Biopesticides, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in pest management. He has had an opportunity to participate in the German Mosquito Control Association’s aerial- and hand-spraying of Bti in the swamps of Waldsee (Germany) and in the meadows of Wroslaw (Poland), respectively. He is the founding chairman of Migori County Beekeepers’ Association and team leader of the Rongo University Apiculture project. He is a member of a consortium carrying out research on honey bee health and conservation in Africa.

Prof. Ngalo previously worked at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in various capacities (between 1985 and 2000) before embarking on lecturing at Solusi University in Zimbabwe (2000-2005) and the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (2008-2014). From 2014 to date, he has been at Rongo University. He was an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Research Fellow at BGU in 1989-90.
Skills in Climate Smart Agriculture
1. Integrated Pest Management, including aerial spraying of Biopesticides
2. Beekeeping, including colony movements, colony splitting and queen rearing
3. Plant propagation technologies (top-working, grafting, budding, marcoting and split-comb banana multiplication, pineapple multiplication)
4. Production of microbial biopesticides
5. Organic farming

Enoch A. Pambour, Ph.D.

Enoch has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences, a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership. Enoch is passionate about women’s and children’s health, audit/improvement, social determinants, social justice and administration.

Aba Yorke, MBA, Member Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), Chartered Insurance Professional, the Insurance Institute of Canada. Aba's interest is in Crop Insurance and marketing.

Fahim Haque,

Fahim Haque, MBA, strategic & organizational planning, operational management, and financial management. Fahim has gained several years of senior management and consulting experience with complete operational and financial responsibility for many profitable and non-profitable companies and entities.
Fahim’s areas of expertise are not limited to general management, operational efficiency and corporate governance. He has managed various companies, with responsibility for supervising their commercial and financial strategies from development to implementation.

Specialties: He has managed several businesses with full P&L responsibility, Improvements on ROI, Marketing and Sales, Organizational Restructuring, and developing & implementing successful business strategies. He has an MBA with a specialization in Revenue Management. He has participated in developing and implementing economic development programs, policies, procedures and strategies, working closely with stakeholders in several communities in Northern Alberta, Canada. He has vast experience working with several economic development agencies and the business community.

Specialties:
- Business Strategies planning and development, expansion and retention.
- Facilitation and Conflict management- New business opening
- Consulting on Operational planning and advisory role to senior administration and Leadership management role
- Community and Capacity Development.
- Site selection, market evaluation, and exit strategies
- Market Analysis & Project Management
- Financial Planning: projected budget and implementation
- Revenue Management Strategies- Planning and implementation

Love Nii-Ayi Hammond (Agronomist, Crop and Soil Science)
Hammond holds a BSc. and an MSc. Degrees from the Agronomy University of Agricultural Sciences, Cuba. He is a renowned agronomist with an enviable track record, having consistently fulfilled his professional responsibilities wherever he has been. Started his career in Cuba in the area of sugarcane, potato, pineapple and citrus productions. In Ghana, he worked with the Biotechnological Unit of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission; he co-managed a turn-key drip irrigation project for the Ministry of Agriculture – Ghana; he was a Research Officer at the Natural Resource Department of the Environmental Protection Agency-Ghana (EPA). He also worked with recognized institutions in Belize (Central America) in the field of Agriculture and capacity building, and participated in several agricultural forums regarding Rural Agricultural Development. Moreover, he held the position as General Field Operations Manager (Farmer Development Program and Community Services & Development Manager for Addax Bioenergy SL Limited, a subsidiary of Addax Oryx Group – Switzerland. Furthermore, served as manager for Community Services and Development/CSR manager and Biomass Manager under Sunbird Bioenergy – Sierra Leone, Africa.
• Renewable Energy (Biomass) Specialist
• Surface Rent Negotiation Specialist