Curriculum Vitae

Name: Ulrich Helberg
Address:

Mittelweg 1
D-37217 Witzenhausen
Germany

Tel.: + 49-5545-999 877
Fax: + 49-5545-999 878
E-mail: info@helberg-consult.com
Web: www.helberg-consult.com

Date of birth: 02.01.1955
Nationality: German
Higher education: Studies of International Agricultural Development (B.Sc.)
Studies of Environmental Protection (M.Sc.)
Company: HELBERG Consult –International Organic Agriculture & Environment

Languages:

  
German:
English:
French: 		Mother tongue
Very good
Very good
Key qualifications:
Production, processing and marketing of organic agricultural products, especially Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP); Requirements for sustainable wild collection, production and marketing of organic products; Value Chain Analyses; Market Research & Market Information Systems (MIS); Public Private Partnerships (PPP); Rural Livelihood Assessment & Improvement. Seven years long term assignments, over 70 short-term missions.
   

Professional Experience:

 

2007
Afghanistan : Development of an organisational structure for the project “Roses for Nangahar” as part of an anti-drug programme to eradicate production of poppy seeds for opium production. Fact-finding mission, market study for rose-oil products, development of a business plan and marketing concept.
For: German AgroAction (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe
Since 2006 (ongoing)
Saudi Arabia: Consultancy and training to the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Stations and commercial farms with regard to the conversion to organic farming according to international organic standards. Agricultural production, marketing, development of standards. For: GTZ-IS
2006
Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Management Considerations into Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Production Processes: Preparation of a UNDP/GEF PDF-B Project as external consultant for the marketing assessment. For: United Nations Development Program, UNDP
2005/2006 World-wide: Market study on organic and sustainable wild collected products, such as Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Non-Timber Forest Products for export development. For: International Trade Centre, ITC, Geneva.

Laos: Development of a concept for sustainable production and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) and special agricultural crops for ethnic groups in mountainous areas of northern Laos (Sayaboury Province) for the joint IFAD/GTZ rural development programme: organisation of producers/collectors, sustainable wild collection and cultivation of NTFPs, value-adding, processing and marketing. For: GTZ/IFAD
2005
Papua New- Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu: Training in organic agriculture in general and Internal Control Systems specifically. Conducting workshops in each country; preparation of a handbook on organic agriculture in the Pacific for extension workers and farmers; Formulation of a policy paper on organic agriculture for the Pacific region. For: CDE, Brussels
2004
India: Fact-finding on sustainable use of forest products and development of a marketing concept. Advising disadvantaged and marginalized self-help groups of ethnic hill people in the Karnataka State (Western Ghats) in marketing NTFP and agricultural produce in respect of fairtrade and organic standards. Karl Kuebel Foundation, Bensheim

Trinidad and Tobago (and other Caribbean islands): Development of regional organic policies for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in (currently 15) Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago and PROINVEST

Serbia & Montenegro: Consultancy for companies involved in collection, cultivation, processing and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP). Advice in business planning, quality management, processing and marketing as part of the South East European Development Assistance, SEED. World Bank Group/IFC
since 2003, ongoing
India: Organisation of producer groups for the collection, processing and marketing of organically certified non-timber forest products in the Himalayan Region of Uttaranchal State. Private sector
2003
Laos: Fact finding on non-timber forest products and special agricultural crops for farmers in mountainous areas of northern Laos (Bokeo and Luang Namtha provinces): wild collection and production potential, processing and marketing. Development of a concept for future GTZ project activities. GTZ
2002/2003
Balkan (Bosnia and Herzegovina, FR Yugoslavia): Team leader, SEED program of the World Bank. Economic mapping of the Medicinal Plant sector. Development of recommendations for the Herbal Development Initiative. World Bank Group/IFC
2002
Kyrgyzstan: Fact finding of the Medicinal Plant sector. Analysis of current activities of the private sector, institutions and government departments. Formulation of recommendations for future GTZ interventions. GTZ

Jamaica: Formulation of Organic Standards for an organic association; Development of a National Organic Certification Scheme with the view of European Accreditation; Development of a Organic agricultural manual for extension workers. CDE, Brussels

South Pacific Development of a concept for regional organic certification. CDE, Brussels

Vanuatu Assistance for the development of the organic sector. Advice to private companies and an NGO. Development of private organic standards, development of an organic manual for field workers; speaker for the Herbal Forum for the development of medicinal plants in the South Pacific. CDE, Brussels

2001/2002
Yugoslavia (Serbia): Consultancy programme concerning collection, cultivation, processing and marketing of medicinal herbs and spices and non timber forest products: advisory services to processors, exporters, research bodies. Organisation of contract production of medicinal plants. The Amber Foundation; Germany
2001

Vanuatu (South Pacific): Consultancy programme concerning organic agriculture. Advising private companies, training extension staff of private and governmental extension services, promotion of the organic sector in general. CDE

Jamaica: Fact –finding regarding the potential to convert large scale plantations to certified organic agriculture. Development of a management plan for the conversion of Green Castle Estate (650 ha), development of a general management plan for the promotion of organic agriculture in Jamaica. CDE

2000 Sri Lanka: Introduction of a Quality Control System according to the HACCP concept at a desiccated coconut factory. RAPUNZEL NATURKOST AG, Germany

Madagascar: Feasibility Study concerning the development of a large scale organic mixed estate (coffee, spices and fruits) and elaboration of a concept regarding co-operation with small-scale farmers; buffer zone management around a national park and forest reserve. It is intended to develop the farm into the largest organic farm in Madagascar. Chemonics International, Washington DC
1999 to 2001
Sri Lanka: Selection of and consultancy to producers and exporters for the production of organic export crops like spices, coconut products, dried fruits and Gotu kola. Training of a local consultant; Rapunzel Naturkost AG, Germany, within the framework of a Public Private Partnership Project, PPP with GTZ
1999 to 2000
Tanzania: Consultancy to producers and to an exporter (Tanzanian-German joint venture) of organic spices. Organisation of production, including economic aspects, development of an internal quality assurance system;
Fena Creation, within the framework of a Public Private Partnership Project, PPP, GTZ
1999
International: Proposal of an organisational structure of small farmers’ organisations in organic agriculture with regard to certification according to EU-Regulation. GTZ, Germany.
1994 to 1998
Madagascar, Papua New-Guinea, Sri Lanka, Mauritius:

Product and marketing advisory services for organic products with the following, main activities:

  • Fact-finding-mission and feasibility study in every country as a first step;
  • Product development;
  • Conversion of farms/companies to organic;
  • Preparation of the companies for the inspection and certification;
  • Advice concerning the organisational structure of farmer’s groups;
  • Consultancy concerning production, processing, storage, packaging, transport and export of organic products:
    pricing strategy and marketing, market analysis, sales promotion of organic products.
  • Presentation of selected companies and their products at the trade fairs like BioFach and FIE
  • Training of local consultants
    GTZ/Protrade, Germany.
Madagascar: Workshop “Trade, Environment and Development”, Elaboration of concepts for the promotion of environmentally friendly products.
UNCTAD, Geneva.
1997
Tanzania: Training of extension service personnel in Natural Resource Management Techniques.
GTZ/Protrade, Germany.
1996
Senegal: Fact-Findings in the sectors of organic cotton and organic food stuffs; Value chain analyses, development of a concept for an advisory programme.
GTZ/Protrade, Germany.
1991 to 1993
Mali: Project Manager of the "Projet Agro Ecologie", PAE: Natural Resource Management, Agroforestry, Organic Agriculture for cotton farmers in Mali South. Training of extension personnel. Partner was the Office de la Haute Vallée du Niger, OHVN and the National Cotton Development Organisation, CMDT. German Development Service, DED (long term assignment).
1984 to 1990
Germany: Tutor and Consultant for the German Foundation for International Development (DSE).
1988/1989
Tanzania: Assistant to the "Soil Erosion Control and Agroforestery Project",SECAP, Natural Resource Management, Agroforestry.
GTZ, Germany (long term assignment).
1980 to 1984
Zambia: Co-ordinator for a Vocational Training Centre in Kitwe District, with attached settlement scheme.
German Development Service, DED (long term assignment)
 

 

Memberships

  • Association of Tropical Agricultural Engineers, Germany (since 1989),
  • Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement (since 2001)
  • International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, IFOAM (since 2001).
  • IFOAM Forum of Consultants, IFC (since 2002)
  • Association for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in South East European Countries, AMAPSEEC (since 2002)


Publications

  • Helberg, U., 1989: Zur Akzeptanz von Erosionsschutzmassnahmen (The acceptance of erosion control measures in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania).- Journal of Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics ISBN 3-88122-531-5
  • Helberg, U., 2000: Rôles des produits phytosanitaires naturels en agriculture biologique.- L’utilisation des produits naturels en protection des végétaux à Madagascar. Ministère de l’Agriculture, Direction de la Protection des Végétaux, Madagascar. En collaboration avec la GTZ.
  • Various articles on Organic Agriculture in different publications