German Cala Gaitan
Mechanic Engineer
Specialized in the Oil and Fats Industry.
Engineering Consultant in Industrial and Agribusiness of the Palm Oil: Extraction, Refining and Oleo Chemicals. Development Oil Palm Projects for Small Farmers
Biography
He was born in Ibagué, Colombia in November 16th, 1947. He is a Mechanical Engineer, graduated from Universidad Americana in Colombia and with a specialization in Industrial Production at Universidad de los Andes in Colombia.
He has other studies in: Financial Management, INCAE, Honduras, Trade in Agro Industrial Goods, Port Alegre, Brazil, English at London, England, Logical Framework, IDB, Costa Rica and Guthrie Palm Oil Mill Executive Course, Malaysia.
Actually Mr. Cala has 20 years living at San José, Costa Rica and it´s the chairman and one of the two shareholders of ¨Cala y Blanco S.A¨, a family company which is dedicated to do mixing and homogenization of Oils and Fats, for the industry of concentrate meals for animals. The industrial plant is located in San Miguel de Matina, Limón.
Publications
He has published, among other, the following articles: ¨Handbook of Palm Oil Mills (1973)¨, ¨Energy Application of the Empty Bunches (1995)¨, ¨The Strategic Partnership in the Palm Development (1998)¨, ¨Oleo Chemical as an Alternative for the Development of Agribusiness of Oil Palm (2000)¨, ¨Industrialization and Prospects for the Palm Oil (2001)¨.
Also he is the co-author in writing, editing and publishing of the books denominated: ¨Overview of the Process of Oil Palm (2005)¨ original writing by Noel Wambeck from Malaysia and ¨Modern Processes in Palm Oil Mills (2008)¨ first print run of 1,000 volumes by FEDEPALMA.
Experience
German has thirty two years of experience as Engineer Consultant in Industrial and Agribusiness of the Palm Oil: Extraction, Refining and Oleo chemicals and developing Oil Palm Projects for Small Farmers. He has 20 years experience as International Consultant for the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).
He was the Executive Chief of Cámara Nacional de Palma Aceitera (CANAPALMA) by the period of 1988-2000, which gathers approximately one thousand palm oil farmers. He gave 7 conferences and seminars on Palm Oil and its application in Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica and Colombia.
Mr. Cala has participated in international congresses, lectures and workshops at the scientific level in Palm Oil and Oleo Chemicals in: South America, Central America, Dominican Republic, USA, Europe (4) and Malaysia (5).
Moreover, he has done several independent consulting at different countries, mainly in Latin American Region in the Agribusiness Palm Oil field.
Recently, among others important enterprises, he worked with ACCIONA BIOCOMBUSTIBLES, S.A, subsidiary of ACCIONA S.A, Spain from 2006 to 2008 as an Integral Adviser in Oil Palm Developments and Agro-Industry in nine countries of Central and South America
www.acciona-biocombustible.com
see curriculum
