CIP mourns the passing of Ron Gall

With heavy hearts, the International Potato Center (CIP) acknowledges the passing of Ron Gall, the former Director of the World Potato Congress (WPC).

Gall was a friend to many at CIP and closely involved with our work as a partner. His work on the WPC helped to promote CIP research and programs around the world.

Gall began his association with potatoes in New Zealand where he held several posts in the country’s horticulture industry, including 22 years as a business manager for Horticulture New Zealand. He always made time to devote energy to serving on boards such as the New Zealand Vegetable & Potato Growers Federation, which he joined in 1991 to advise on three topics central to CIP’s work: seed certification, research and development, and potato marketing.

Gall was named director of the WPC in 2014, a post he would hold for the next seven years. Current WPC Director, Romain Cools, said, “Ron was dedicated to the potato industry and in helping to make the World Potato Congress the world-renowned organization that it is today. After 13 years of involvement…  his commitment and loyalty to WPC will be long remembered.

His years of experience in the potato sector were great assets to the Board. He was instrumental in putting on a fantastic congress in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2014 and assisted WPC in maintaining its reputation as a world class networking organization.”

CIP joins the WPC in expressing our condolences to Ron’s wife, Gail, and his entire family

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