A Stellenbosch University professor who is one of the world's leading authorities on handling‚ packaging and marketing pomegranates has been chosen to lead the worldwide agricultural engineering umbrella organisation. Linus Opara holds the South African research chair in postharvest technology at Stellenbosch University and distinguished professor in the university's horticultural science. Opara has been elected as the incoming president of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering‚ which consists of regional and national societies of agricultural engineering as well as private and public companies and individuals globally. His election happened at the International Conference on Agricultural Engineering in Denmark‚ and when he takes the reins in 2019 he will be the first engineer from sub-Saharan Africa to lead the commission. Opara‚ who has been at Stellenbosch since 2009‚ is a recipient of the 2016 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Award for senior researchers. He qualified as an agricultural engineer from universities in Nigeria and New Zealand‚ and serves on numerous international committees and editorial boards. His research team is the leading group worldwide working on postharvest practices that improve the handling‚ packaging and marketing of pomegranates. His group also tests and develops packaging and quality control methods for other fresh fruits and vegetables. "The work of individual Stellenbosch University staff and postgraduate students in these areas is widely recognised by our peers‚ locally and internationally‚" he said. "Through collaboration and co-supervision we have several PhD and MEng students registered in the faculties of Engineering and AgriSciences working on different research topics in agricultural and biosystems engineering."..