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Mike Goodwin

Senior Consultant

Fresh Produce and Agricultural Production Expert

Agricultural and Horticultural Director

A talented agricultural and horticultural director with extensive and valuable hands-on experience in the development of global production operations. Employing a versatile approach to building businesses at all levels, with a proven track record of implementing strong operational management, high-level business development programs, and supply chain strategies. With international experience managing a diverse range of conventional, organic, commercial, and horticultural farming operations, from the grass-root level and across global territories.

With a passion for environmentally sustainable farming strategies, allowing for a direct approach to working with local flora and fauna to promote the preservation of indigenous landscapes and biodiversity through innovative farming techniques, sustainable practices, and the renewal of biodiversity. A dedicated director with strong financial and commercial awareness, proven ability to reduce operational costs, and leading business development projects to improve operational systems.

 

Expertise:

  • Production development; including technical expertise, resource management, and systems.
  • Farm management; including plantation, greenhouse, commercial, intensive horticultural, and livestock production.
  • Specialist in all facets of crop production whether commercial, horticultural or plantation.
  • Commercial & operational production management; including agronomy, growing strategies, crop development, maximising yields, and diversification of cropping strategies.
  • Extensive expertise in Irrigation design and management; including water conservation and implementation, and diversification across numerous geographical zones.
  • Account management; including in-depth forecasting and budgeting.
  • Logistics; with strong knowledge of packaging and distribution, import and export, and cold chain requirements.
  • Team leadership; including recruitment, training, and development of cross-cultural team functions.

 

Experience:

Director of Production Operations, Sales, and Sourcing, reporting to Board of executives

Responsible for streamlining organisational operations and efficiently directing operational budgets to improve revenue by expanding and implementing international business strategy, and enhancing international relations. Spearheading the management of supply chain coordination and liaising with international fresh produce suppliers, growers, transport, and logistics partners.

 

Key responsibilities:

  • Developing and directing organisational strategy.
  • Responsible for ensuring the company’s lean organizational structure by running daily business operations and developing the international market.
  • Drafting organisational policies and philosophies.
  • End-to-end finance and budgeting oversight, including account management and reporting.
  • Maintaining and expanding stakeholder engagement across cross-cultural teams.
  • Ensuring team KPIs are met through upskilling and progress management.
  • Procurement of high-quality equipment, goods, services, and the management of international vendors.

 

Notable Companies:

Grupo Mozfoods S.A. (T/A Compania de Vanduzi), Van Oers United, Rea Vipingo Plantations Ltd., Everest Enterprises Ltd., Exotic Farm Produce, Agriflora Ltd., Agricon Pvt Ltd., and SADDC ICRISAT – Matopos Research Station.

 

Qualifications:

  • CBI Export Promotion Program & Entrepreneurship Development
  • Food integrity Consulting Hygiene Management Course
  • Auditor for M&S Field to Fork
  • Budget Development & Administration
  • Project Management
  • Health & Safety

 

Achievements:

  • First commercial farm in Zambia to grow tobacco under drip irrigation with monitoring and application systems to manage high volumes of chlorides from water sources, resulting in a 35% increase in leaf weight sold.
  • Installed an environmentally conscious, reusable green water supply system for on-farm irrigation by reusing water from the sisal processing to irrigate horticultural and commercial row crops.
  • Trialed the first semi-commercial runner bean growing project in Peru, South America.
  • Developed an organic and conventional tender stem production project in Morocco, increasing output from 2000kgs/week to 20,000kgs/week. Leading to the development of a commercial production base.
  • Established a Commercial capsicum project in Morocco, focusing on standard varieties, with the development of new hybrid varieties to handle high temperatures. Resulting in a partnership with seed breeders to develop new capsicum varieties, which were evolved to withstand year-round weather conditions.
  • First Tenderstem Trial Project in Peru, to explore the commercial viability of the product in South America.
  • Worked alongside Dr. Calvin Lamborn and Bill Albers, Pea Seed breeders in the USA, to develop new shiny and stringless pea varieties for the UK and European markets.
  • Established the first development project to grow and supply Thai baby corn in Jamaica to the UK and local markets.
  • As Head of Agriculture, streamlined the production and continuity of fresh produce supplies to overseas markets, alongside developing new market strategies to support a business growth plan of 15% per annum.
  • As Head of Agriculture, managed the development of 5 new in-house production sites, ensuring delivery of planned business growth, increasing production from 75 to 150 tons/week, and successfully increasing turnover by $10m per annum.

 

Notable Professional Positions Held:

  • Director of Production Operations, Sales, and Sourcing
  • Production Director
  • Agriculture & Horticultural Consultants
  • Horticulture General Manager
  • Head of Agriculture
  • Development & Company Agronomist
  • Estates General Manager
  • Irrigation Consultant
  • Company Seedsman
  • Research Farm Manager – SADDC ICRISAT

Proven track record of implementing strong operational management

High-level business development programs and supply chain strategies

International experience managing a diverse range of conventional, organic, commercial, and horticultural farming operations

Extensive expertise in Irrigation design and management

Logistics; with strong knowledge of packaging and distribution, import and export, and cold chain requirements

About JP Trett Ltd

JP Trett are a leading recruiter to the agricultural industry, with over 100 years of Farming, Agricultural, Consultancy and Recruitment experience. Specialising in mid-senior level Sales, Marketing, Professional Services, Operations, Strategy and Management with a growing sector of very niche Engineering, Health and Research sectors. If it is related to Agriculture or the environment we have solutions.

Company Registration Number: 7736264

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