Jane L. Ambuko, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor and Head of Horticulture Unit at the Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi
Professor Jane L. Ambuko is an Associate Professor and Head of Horticulture Unit at the Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi. She holds a B.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Horticulture from University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Pomology and Postharvest Major) from Tsukuba University (Japan). Her area of specialization is Postharvest Science and Technology. Her research and outreach activities focus on adaptation, validation and promotion of postharvest technologies/innovations to preserve postharvest quality and reduce losses. She has supervised and mentored many students in various disciplines in Agricultural and Food Sciences. Together with her students and research partners, she has published widely on various aspects of food and agricultural sciences – from production to utilization and consumption. Prof. Ambuko’s notable outreach initiatives include 1) Adaptation and piloting of low-cost cold storage technologies in Kenya 2) Piloting smallholder aggregation & processing centers to demonstrate practical application of simple postharvest technologies to reduce food losses among smallholder horticultural farmers and 3) Conceptualizing and convening the All Africa Postharvest Congress & Exhibitions to showcase research and innovations in postharvest loss reduction. Prof. Ambuko is a champion of postharvest food loss and waste reduction and empowerment of smallholder farmers.