Speaks English
Tropical Agriculture | Value Chain Development | Economics | English | United States | MS, AE
Charles Keiser works with agricultural businesses in the US to build profitable and sustainable agricultural value chains in developing countries utilizing his expertise in tropical agriculture and value chain.
Charles has more than 41 years of experience working with agricultural companies and received his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee.
He oversaw R & D, budgeting, forecasting, materials, HR, IT, labor management, project management, inland logistics, environmental, and other support departments based in the tropics with 16k associates.
Prior to his current work as a President at Tropical Agriculture Consulting, Charles was a CEO at African Lion Agriculture.
Charles has worked with clients in the US, Sierra Leone, Costa Rica, East Africa, West Africa, Asia, Panama, the Philippines, and Colombia.
Charles has more than 41 years of experience working with agricultural companies and received his Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee.
He oversaw R & D, budgeting, forecasting, materials, HR, IT, labor management, project management, inland logistics, environmental, and other support departments based in the tropics with 16k associates.
Prior to his current work as a President at Tropical Agriculture Consulting, Charles was a CEO at African Lion Agriculture.
Charles has worked with clients in the US, Sierra Leone, Costa Rica, East Africa, West Africa, Asia, Panama, the Philippines, and Colombia.
Keywords
Other
Experience
Tropical Agriculture Consulting
President
2012 - Present (11 years, 10 months)
Building profitable and sustainable agricultural value chains in developing countries. From greenfield startups to improving existing supply chains from field to market delivery;
Feasibility study for new port in East Africa, identifying potential customers and developing improved logistics services over current alternatives;
Greenfield banana project underway in Haiti for European Market, to be certified Fair Trade;
Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( drones) to benefit small farmers in West Africa through land use planning and precision agricultural applications
Feasibility study for new port in East Africa, identifying potential customers and developing improved logistics services over current alternatives;
Greenfield banana project underway in Haiti for European Market, to be certified Fair Trade;
Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( drones) to benefit small farmers in West Africa through land use planning and precision agricultural applications
African Lion Agriculture • Sierra Leone
CEO
2012 - 2015 (2 years, 12 months)
Decided on best crop mix for several thousand hectare project in Sierra Leone, based on study of value chains from sourcing thru logistics and best market;
Looked at "right to win", not only could a crop be grown in this location, and where it would be sold, but why would it be a good idea to grow this particular crop in Sierra Leone. Choose oil palm, rubber cocoa and pineapples;
British group bought the operations of the first three crops and large multinational took over operations of the pineapples with plans for more expansion
Looked at "right to win", not only could a crop be grown in this location, and where it would be sold, but why would it be a good idea to grow this particular crop in Sierra Leone. Choose oil palm, rubber cocoa and pineapples;
British group bought the operations of the first three crops and large multinational took over operations of the pineapples with plans for more expansion
Chiquita Brands • Costa Rica
Global Production Vice President
1980 - 2012 (32 years, 1 month)
Worked with Chiquita Brands for 32 years, started as farm trainee in Panama, increased responsibilities in Philippine, Colombia, Costa Rica, and African assignments in production, quality, budgeting, fruit estimation, negotiations and division manager roles;
As VP of Global Sourcing was responsible for all of Chiquita's owned and purchased bananas (about 15% of world export volumes) and other tropical fruits including pineapples, melons and grapes;
Oversight of R&D, budgeting, forecasting, materials, HR, IT, labor management, project management, inland logistics and ports, environmental and other support departments based in the tropics, 16k associates;
As VP of Global Sourcing was responsible for all of Chiquita's owned and purchased bananas (about 15% of world export volumes) and other tropical fruits including pineapples, melons and grapes;
Oversight of R&D, budgeting, forecasting, materials, HR, IT, labor management, project management, inland logistics and ports, environmental and other support departments based in the tropics, 16k associates;
Education
Master's Degree, Agricultural Economics
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bachelor's Degree, International Agriculture
Utah State University
Activities and Societies: Utah State track and Field team, graduated cum laude.
Technical Agricultural courses on a variety of subjects relating to agriculture in tropical areas of the world
Technical Agricultural courses on a variety of subjects relating to agriculture in tropical areas of the world