Scientific Committee
Dr Alemayehu Ambaw Tsige
Scientific Committee
Dr Alemayehu Ambaw Tsige is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University, where he heads the Packaging and Cold Chain Research Group within the Africa Institute for Postharvest Technology, Faculty of AgriSciences. Trained across chemical, process, and bioscience engineering, he applies multiphysics modelling, AI, and data-driven predictive analytics to fresh-produce packaging and cold chain systems. His work integrates CFD, X-ray micro-CT, and machine learning to reduce losses along the horticultural supply chain. He is motivated to join the Model-IT scientific committee to advance data-driven modelling and connect African postharvest research with the international modelling community.
Dr Zinash A. Belay
Scientific Committee
Dr Zinash A. Belay is a Food Scientist and Postharvest Technology Researcher with a PhD in Food Science and extensive experience in postharvest technology, postharvest physiology, and fresh produce quality. She is motivated to join the committee to contribute her expertise, collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, and support the successful delivery of the Model-IT 2027 Symposium.
Scientific Committee
Scientific Committee
| NO. | NAME | AFFILIATION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Tsige | Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University | South Africa |
| 2 | Asanda Mditshwa | UKZN | South Africa |
| 3 | Christopher Vincent | University of Florida | USA |
| 4 | Daniel A. Neuwald | KOB | Germany |
| 5 | Di Wu | Zhejiang University, China | China |
| 6 | Dr. Allan Woolf | New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 7 | Hany ElMesiry | School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, China | China |
| 8 | Jose Blasco-Ivars | Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) | Spain |
| 9 | Manuela Zude-Sasse | ATB, Germany | Germany |
| 10 | Pramod V. Mahajan | Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) | Germany |
| 11 | Prof. Andrew East | New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 12 | Prof. Maarten Hertog | KU Leuven, Belgium | Belgium |
| 13 | Prof. Norhashila Hashim | Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia | Malaysia |
| 14 | Prof. Pankaj Pathare | Sultan Qaboos University | Oman |
| 15 | Prof. Paul Cronje | Citrus Research International, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Stellenbosch University | South Africa |
| 16 | Prof. Pieter Verboven | KU Leuven, Belgium | Belgium |
| 17 | Prof. Tilahun Seyoum Workneh | UKZN | South Africa |
| 18 | Rob Schouten | Wageningen University | Netherlands |
| 19 | Solomon Workneh | Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
| 20 | Thijs Defraeye | Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology | Switzerland |
| 21 | Tieho Paulus Mafeo | University of Limpopo | South Africa |
| 22 | Willem Gruyters | KU Leuven | Belgium |
| 23 | Zhiguo Li | Northwest A&F University | China |
| 24 | Zinash Belay | Agricultural Research Council (ARC) - Infruitec Nietvoorbij | South Africa |
| 25 | Ikechukwu Opara | University of the Western Cape, South Africa | South Africa |
| 26 | Prince Dangare | Stellenbosch University, South Africa | South Africa |