Profile of Guest Speaker

Worked and studied microscopy and electron microscopy on cactus spines and transportation of nutrients within (under Dr. Klaus Kronenberg) at the University of Bochum for Humboldtstiftung (Foundation) (1971)

Studied horticulture for 2 years at Horticulture School Opladen, Germany (1977-1979)

Studied microbiology, genetics, and botany at University of Cologne (1979-1985)

Worked and studied at University of Bonn with Professor Jakobson on genetics (tissue culture including bamboo) (1987-1989)

Studied advanced automation and robotics in Leverkusen with awards for outstanding innovations (1989-1991)

Worked as general manager for Sander (Germany) developing automated machinery for agriculture (1991-1997)

Built up a tissue culture production for a private company in Canada on contract base (1997-2000)

Arrived in The Philippines in 2000 and developed machinery for several Korean startup companies in Digos and Tagum for woodworking including furniture and wood processing (2000-2003)

Established an organic vegetable and mushroom farming operation (2003-2005)

Started Bambu Tropicana in 2005 and converted the company into Asia Green specialized in bamboo (2005-)

Worked on different large-scale bamboo projects including Mati Bamboo Project, etc. (2016-)

Recently started Probio Farms with focus on bamboo mass production and products based on bamboo (2020-)

Highest Award of Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen for Outstanding Irrigation Technique (1980)

Highest Award of Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen for a new transplanting system (1981)

Award of the City of Cologne for outstanding contribution to restorative works along the River Rhine (1983)