From Post-Harvest Science to Risk Management | Ep. 164

What does it take to protect fruit quality from the orchard all the way to the market — and how has agricultural research had to evolve to meet the changing needs of growers, exporters and the wider fresh produce industry? In Episode 164 of the Lucentlands Podcast, Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie speak to Dr Martin Taylor, Research Fellow at ExperiCo, and Dr Ian Crouch, Managing Director of ExperiCo. The conversation traces the history of ExperiCo from its roots in the research structures of South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry, through deregulation, Unifruco and Capespan, to the independent agricultural research business it has become today. Martin and Ian explain how a team originally focused heavily on post-harvest research and cold-chain management has expanded into a much broader range of agricultural R&D. Today, ExperiCo works across fruit and other crops in areas including post-harvest quality, product and registration trials, molecular diagnostics, plant pathology, entomology, soil science, physiology and risk management. They also discuss the importance of independent scientific testing. New products and technologies may arrive with impressive claims, but ExperiCo’s role is to provide an answer backed by sound scientific method — even when that answer is not necessarily the one a client hoped to hear. Other topics include the development of technologies and programmes that have influenced the South African fruit industry, the role of 1-MCP in extending fruit storage life, innovation in packaging and cooling, identifying pathogens at molecular level, the transfer of institutional knowledge, and the challenge of developing the next generation of agricultural scientists. It is also a conversation about adaptation. ExperiCo has survived major changes in the structure of South African agriculture by continually expanding its capabilities while retaining its focus on scientific integrity, confidentiality and practical problem-solving. Connect with us: Website: https://lucentlands.co.za/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucentlandsmedia/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucentlandsmedia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucentlandsmedia/ Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/lucentlandspodcast Support this podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/lucentlands?new=1