Daniel Rexford Nyamekye
Senior Agronomist
Nairobi,Kenya
Summary
Energetic research and development scientist ready to deliver great research while working closely with peers in the LEAP Project. Focused individual displaying exceptional skills in testing and documenting results. Seek exciting new lab-driven role in cross-functional R&D setting.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Research & Development Scientist: Crop & Agronomy
Yara East Africa Ltd.
Nairobi, Nairobi Province
1 2024 - Current
- Reviewed the CleanRise product from India and made recommendations for consideration by Yara India
- Developed the POLARIS input-output logic for coffee, sugarcane, wheat, tomato, and onion crop nutrition programs in the Yara FarmCare app for Kenya
- Developed a trial protocol for the evaluation of Yara's organic-based fertilizers Indonesia
- Completed a research proposal for testing Yara's organo-mineral fertilizer products in Kenya and Tanzania
- Completed a field validation trial on the response of upland rice to Yara biostimulant products in collaboration with Yara Kenya technical agronomist
- Conducted a webinar on 'on-farm assessment of soil health' for Yara Senior Agronomists in Africa-Asia region
- Analyzed soil reports from Cropnuts to fix the 'guide high' and 'guide low' limit for the Kenya soil health index
- Developed the recommendations for selected parameters for the Kenya soil health index project.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews to stay current on industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines and budget constraints.
- Achieved significant advancements in product development through rigorous experimentation and data analysis.
- Established strategic partnerships with external organizations to access unique resources or expertise for collaborative projects.
- Maintained accurate documentation of all experiments, facilitating seamless replication or future reference when needed.
- Evaluated competitor products to identify potential areas for differentiation and improvements in our own offerings.
- Presented research findings at conferences, contributing to the scientific community''s knowledge base.
- Provided technical support to marketing teams during product launches, addressing any concerns or questions regarding product specifications.
- Identified areas for improvement in existing products through thorough testing and evaluation.
- Mentored junior scientists, fostering a collaborative, productive work environment.
Research Scientist: Agronomic Recommendation & Tools
Yara Agronomy and R&D (YARD)
05.2021 - 12.2023
- Completed a literature review on soil pH mitigation opportunities under Yara soil health project in Kenya
- Completed the protocol for establishing baseline data for monitoring soil organic carbon stock changes in Kenya and for validating Boomitra's remote sensing capabilities in East Africa
- Completed a soil sampling protocol and questionnaires for establishing carbon footprint baselines for Robusta coffee production in Vietnam and Indonesia
- Completed a research proposal for testing Yara's organo-mineral fertilizer products in Kenya and Tanzania
- Completed a review/analysis on PLOY4 for nature-positive offering in Kenya
- Developed the POLARIS input-output logic for maize, rice, and potato crop nutrition programs in the FarmCare app for Kenya and Tanzania
- Conducted a webinar on 'on-farm assessment of soil health' for Yara Senior Agronomists in Africa-Asia region
- Mentored one agronomist in Malaysia under the Yara Women-in-Agronomy program
- Completed two field validation experiments on nitrogen topdressing optimization in maize for customizing IRRI leaf color chart as Yara Digital Leaf Color Chart (DLCC) in Mwea, Central Kenya
- Developed a scientific poster on the Digital Leaf Color Chart (DLCC) for Yara Senior Agronomists Network
- Conducted three field validation experiments on nitrogen topdressing optimization in rice for customizing IRRI leaf color chart as Yara Digital Leaf Color Chart (DLCC) in Tanzania
- Completed three field validation experiments on nitrogen topdressing optimization in maize for customizing IRRI leaf color chart as Yara Digital Leaf Color Chart (DLCC) in Western Kenya
- Developed simplified crop contents on maize, rice, and potato for push notifications in the Yara FarmCare app.
Research Scientist: Digital Agronomy
Yara Digital Farming
05.2020 - 04.2021
- Established and completed two maize crop nutrition trials in Bungoma and Kisii Counties of Kenya in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), and shared the technical report with Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Completed the Yara blended fertilizer (MiCROP) trials on maize in six counties in Central Kenya (Murang'a, Meru, Kirinyaga, Embu, & Nyeri), and shared the technical report with the Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Developed the agronomic rules, content, and input parameters required for rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane, and Irish potato in the Yara Polaris engine (i.e
- Fertilizer calculator) for Kenya and Tanzania
- Drafted job descriptions for recruitment and conducted interviews for hiring two technical agronomists, four interns, five data collectors, and two crop doctors in East Africa
- Trained two Junior Agronomists on the four rights (4R) of nutrients management in rice, maize, and potato cultivation.
Research & Development Scientist: Crop Nutrition R&D
Yara East Africa Ltd.
05.2018 - 04.2020
- Completed six scientific fertilizer trials and organized four seminars to discuss the findings with the Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Submitted six technical reports to the Chief Agronomists for Africa
- Developed crop-specific nutrient recommendations for maize and potato production in Kenya using Yara balanced crop nutrition products
- Completed a field validation work on manual leaf color chart and N-tester device for use by local agronomists
- Developed scientific trial and field demonstration protocols for use by Yara East Africa Agronomists
- Trained three Yara Junior Agronomists on N-tester usage, nutrient removal, and fertilizer rate calculations
- Participated in four farmer's field day events to share Yara's products performance with farmers and agroinputs dealers
- Collaborated with Waruhiu Agricultural Training Centre (WAT-C) and the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) to conduct six maize and potato crop nutrition trials in Kenya.
Research Intern
Yara Centre for Plant Nutrition & Environmental Research
01.2018 - 04.2018
- Assisted two postgraduate interns to collect and analyze data from an experiment on ammonia losses
- Reviewed literature on less-responsive soils in Sub-Saharan Africa and the use of integrated soil fertility management practices to make them productive
- Drafted four (4) research proposals on maize and potato responses to Yara fertilizer products in collaboration with Hanninghof Senior Scientists for implementation in East Africa
- Compiled 10 predominant maize and soybean nutrient deficiency symptoms using existing pictures in the Yara database into a poster for educating smallholder farmers in East Africa.
Internship
Yara Centre for Plant Nutrition & Environmental Research
03.2016 - 03.2016
- Evaluated the effects of different calcium concentrations on the rate of photosynthesis in the leaves of tomato, young citrus, and coffee plants using the Li-COR 6400 XT device
- Analyzed data using SAS JMP Pro software and developed light response curves
- Delivered one oral presentation at Yara Hanninghof on the internship topic.
Farm Manager: Field & Crop Production Unit
Optimum Nutrition & Health Consult
09.2011 - 07.2015
- Supervised 20 farm workers every season
- Developed crop cultivation plans for the company
- Trained all our farm workers on good agricultural practices every cropping season
- Successfully maintained production every season
- Prepared seasonal reports.
Integrated Science Tutor
Adventist High School - Takoradi
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Taught five classes per term with each class having 25 to 35 students
- Graded class assignments and final examinations on time
- About 75% of my students obtained admission to various tertiary institutions in Ghana
- Became the Form Master for two classes and Academic tutor for 30 students.
Internship/Field Assistant
CSIR-Crops Research Institute
06.2007 - 08.2008
- Prepared and demarcated plots for field experiments
- Sampled soils with 'apple' corer and prepared soil samples for microbial density and diversity analysis
- Collected plant samples for analysis in the laboratory
- Analyzed data using SPSS.
Education
MSc. in International Horticulture, level 7 -
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
10.2015 - 05.2017
BSc. Natural Resources Management - undefined
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST)
08.2005 - 05.2009
Skills
Microsoft Office Suite: Competent user of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint Mastered these skills through daily usage in writing reports, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting and sharing research findings within Yara and with our external partners
Statistical Software: Used GenStat to analyze data for my bachelor's thesis, and SAS JMP and R during my master's thesis Regular use of Minitab, R, Statistix 10, and JASP for analyzing large datasets from experiments and generating summaries and graphs for report preparation at Yara
Mentoring experience
Laboratory techniques
Research Methodologies
Intellectual Curiosity
Scientific Writing
Experimental design
daniel.rexford@yara.com, dr.nyamekye@daad-alumni.de
Technicalreports
- Digital leaf colour chart tool helps Tanzania rice farmers obtain increased yields and higher net income, Nyamekye, D.R., Mohammed, I., Yara Agronomy and R&D (YARD) Newsletter
- Evaluation of Yara digital leaf colour chart (DLCC) for need-based nitrogen fertilizer management in maize production in Kenya, Nyamekye, D.R., Mohammed, I., Yara Agronomy and R&D (YARD)
- Impact of Yara blended fertilizer rates on maize grain yield and profitability in Central Kenya (six counties), Nyamekye, D.R., Ikigu, G. M., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Recommending suitable fertilizers for enhancing maize production in Western Kenya, in view of emerging limiting nutrients, Kimani, S., Ondicho, A., Kundu, C., Kamau, D., Esilaba, A. O., Nyamekye, D.R., Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO)-YARA Technical Report
- Recommending suitable fertilizers for enhancing maize production in the Nyanza Province of Kenya, in view of emerging limiting nutrients, Kimani, S., Ondicho, A., Kundu, C., Kamau, D., Esilaba, A. O., Nyamekye, D.R., KALRO - YARA Technical Report
- Testing new Yara crop nutrition program for growing potatoes in East Africa, Nyamekye, D.R., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Balanced nutrition for improving sub-optimal potato yields in Kenya, Nyamekye, D.R., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Introduction of foliar phosphorus to potato production in East Africa, Nyamekye, D.R., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Monitoring nitrogen fertilizer applications using leaf color chart and N-tester for smallholder maize production in Kenya, Nyamekye, D.R., Portz, G., Gustavo Portz, Hanninghof
- Response of maize to nitrogen and sulphur-based fertilizers in Kenya, Nyamekye, D.R., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
- Testing new crop nutrition program for maize under smallholder conditions, Nyamekye, D.R., Yara East Africa Agronomy team
Address - Work
Yara East Africa Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya, 00200
Scholarshipsawards
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Hannover, Germany, 08/2015, 09/2017, Full scholarship for development-related postgraduate courses | Value: €22,000.00 + other benefits.
- German International Cooperation (GIZ) & Centre for International Migration (CIM), 05/2019, 02/2022, GIZ/CIM Returning Expert Award | Value: €22,392.00 + other benefits.
Personal Information
Nationality: Ghanaian
Publications
- Sustainable intensification and climate-smart yam production for improved food security in West Africa: a review, Owusu Danquah, E., Danquah, F.O., Frimpong, F., Dankwa, K.O., Weebadde, C.K., Ennin, S.A., Asante, M.O.O., Brempong, M.B., Dwamena, H.A., Addo-Danso, A., Nyamekye, D.R., Akom, M., Opoku, A.Y., Frontiers in Agronomy, 4, 858114, 10.3389/fagro.2022.858114
- Root growth of Brassica oleracea in subsurface drip fertigation system, Nyamekye, D.R., Stützel, H., Fricke, A., Grote, U., Mitt. Ges. Pflanzenbauwiss., 29, 281-282, Google citations, 29th Conference of the Society for Plant Sciences, Kassel-Germany
Volunteer Experience
National Service Personnel, Ghana Education Service, Enchi, Western Ghana, 11/2009, 08/2010, Taught and assessed students in Integrated Science at Anglican Junior High School, Enchi - Western Ghana., Supervised terminal examinations.
Training
- International Fertilizer Society (IFS) Agronomic Conference on "Connecting Research and Practice"
- Tropentag Hybrid Conf. on "Towards shifting paradigms in agriculture for a healthy and sustainable future."
- Tropentag Virtual Conference on "Food and nutrition security and its resilience to global crisis."
- Fertilizer Canada webinar series on "Canada-Africa 4R solution and precision nutrient management."
- Tropentag Conference on "Filling gaps and removing traps for sustainable resources management", Germany.
- 29th Society for Plant Sciences Conference, University of Kassel, Germany
- Biostimulant Learning Program, Yara Africa & Asia Region, Singapore, 12/2021
- Dig into Practices of Carbon Farming, Indigo Carbon College, 12/2021
- Learn the Landscape of Carbon Farming, Indigo Carbon College, 12/2021
- Advanced Statistics & Experimental Design, RUFORUM/World Bank ACE II AF, 12/2021
- Data Analysis Using R Programming Language, RUFORUM/World Bank ACE II AF, 12/2021
- Research Proposal Writing, RUFORUM/World Bank ACE II AF Trainings, 12/2021
- Certified Minitab Beginner - Graphical Tools (Accredited), Advanced Innovation Group Pro Excellence, 12/2021
- Microsoft Excel: Data Visualisation, Excel Charts & Graphs, Udemy Business Online, 12/2021
- An Introduction to GIS and QGIS 3, Udemy Business Online Learning Platform, 12/2021
- Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reduction Protocol (NERP Lite), Fertilizer Canada eLearning, 12/2021
- 4R Nutrient Stewardship: Reducing Greenhouse Gas, Fertilizer Canada eLearning, 12/2021
- 4R Nutrient Stewardship Training Part I, II & III, Fertilizer Canada eLearning, 12/2021
- 4R Essentials: A Short Course in 4R Nutrient Stewardship, Fertilizer Canada eLearning, 12/2021
- Training of Trainers on Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS), FARA & GCA, 12/2021
- ELearning on Digital Agriculture (Facilitated), World Bank Open Learning Campus, 12/2021
Timeline
Research Scientist: Agronomic Recommendation & Tools
Yara Agronomy and R&D (YARD)
05.2021 - 12.2023
Research Scientist: Digital Agronomy
Yara Digital Farming
05.2020 - 04.2021
Research & Development Scientist: Crop Nutrition R&D
Yara East Africa Ltd.
05.2018 - 04.2020
Research Intern
Yara Centre for Plant Nutrition & Environmental Research
01.2018 - 04.2018
Internship
Yara Centre for Plant Nutrition & Environmental Research
03.2016 - 03.2016
MSc. in International Horticulture, level 7 -
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
10.2015 - 05.2017
Farm Manager: Field & Crop Production Unit
Optimum Nutrition & Health Consult
09.2011 - 07.2015
Integrated Science Tutor
Adventist High School - Takoradi
08.2010 - 08.2011
Internship/Field Assistant
CSIR-Crops Research Institute
06.2007 - 08.2008
BSc. Natural Resources Management - undefined
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST)
08.2005 - 05.2009
Research & Development Scientist: Crop & Agronomy
Yara East Africa Ltd.
1 2024 - Current
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