Tom Whitaker is a native of North Carolina. He received his BS and MS from North Carolina State University in the Agricultural Engineering Department and his PhD from Ohio State University. Tom was a research engineer with the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture for 42 years until his retirement in Feb 2009. Currently, Tom holds the position of Professor Emeritus, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, North Carolina State University.
Tom’s research has determined why it is so difficult to get an accurate estimate of the mycotoxin levels in an agricultural commodity. His research has lead to the development of industry wide mycotoxin sampling programs for commodities such as peanuts, almonds, corn, and pistachios. Internationally, the techniques he developed have been used by Codex to develop international sampling programs to detect mycotoxins in peanuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts.
Tom has received the Secretary of Agricultures Group Honors Award on two separate occasions. One for efforts that resulted in China lifting its embargo of US wheat because of TCK contamination and the second for efforts resulting in the EU lifting the “Special Measures” imposed on the import of California almonds due to aflatoxin contamination.
Tom is a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and of the American Peanut Research and Education Society. Tom continues his research as a Professor Emeritus in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.