Biosystems Group

A Biosystems Group has been created to support OPI's mandate to be the world leading provider of grain quality management solutions. In addition to advancing the science of storage management, the Biosystems Group helps clients develop customized storage management solutions, from design through to installation and operation of their storage facilities. Extensive in-house expertise combined with academic, extension and business partnerships enables the group to provide a number of value-added services, such as:

• Advise on customized temperature and moisture control solutions.
• Storage modeling programs to help design and operate the most cost-effective systems.
• Development of IPM and insect management programs.
• OPI's Biosystems group is dedicated to providing the support required to make the best possible grain management decisions for your operation.
  

Meet the Biosystems Group

Ron Larson M.Sc - Engineering Manager

Coming off the farm near Boyle Alberta, Ron received his B.Sc.(1985) and M.Sc (1987) in Agriculture Engineering at the University of Alberta. A 20 year OPI veteran, Ron manages the Agricultural Engineering department which includes overseeing the Biosystems Group, with direct support in developing related hardware/software products.

"We're doing fundamental research on critical storage quality parameters such as temperature, moisture monitoring and control, insect detection and identity preservation. Through the development of unique and novel products, the Biosystems group helps make the grain manager's job easier. Our Biosystems group is dedicated to developing cost effective solutions that meet the real world needs of grain managers".

Fuji Jian Ph.D, P.Eng -Entomologist Engineer - Biosystems Group

Fuji relocated from China to Canada in 1999 to obtain his Ph.D studying sampling theory, insect populations and movement modeling. Recently receiving his Biosystems Engineering Doctorate from the University of Manitoba, Fuji brings to OPI a wealth of education and knowledge.

As our resident Entomologist, Fuji's first task was to build an insect lab. This has enabled Fuji to continue research, as well as to provide on-going support to our recently commercialized Insector technology. His Insector-based work includes developing grain sampling strategies, establishing relationships between Insector counts and insect density in stored grain, and applying models to predict insect population dynamics. Customer support also includes making recommendations in such areas as probe placement, interpretation on Insector count data, then recommendations as to aeration practice and fumigation treatment. On behalf of the Biosystems group, Fuji is dedicated to helping customers create insect control strategies in an effort to optimize storage quality.

Dinesh Garg M.Sc - Grain Conditioning Specialist -Biosystems Group

Hailing from the Punjab region of India, Dinesh moved to the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at Purdue University in 2003 to pursue his Masters degree . As a member of Post Harvest Grain Quality and Stored Product Protection Program led by Dr. Dirk E. Maier, Dinesh was involved in many projects relating to post-harvest engineering and value-added processing of agricultural crops. His extensive background in modeling and aeration management for value-added crop preservation brings invaluable insight to the Biosystems group.

Joining OPI as a Biosystems Engineer in 2005, Dinesh has lead in the design, installation, and operation of the OPIsystems Grain Moisture Lab. This lab can fully characterize commodity specific EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content), and Temperature / ERH (Equilibrium Relative Humidity) relationships of various agricultural crops. Other activities include the optimization of aeration and conditioning strategies; as well as the development of new moisture sensing technologies. Dinesh is further working on grain ecosystems modeling to optimize the design of storage structures and aeration systems. This work, leading to enhanced storage management, is of potential benefit to customers worldwide.