Breaking the Mould - Hawkins Forensic Investigation

Event Overview

Mould contamination can occur to a range of substrates including commercial and domestic building materials, timber, soft furnishings, fabrics and plastics. It can also affect warehouse stock packaging and materials used to pack product shipments in marine containers. This presentation investigates some of the many types of mould species involved, how they can be used to determine the cause and the timing of the contamination, and their potential effects on air quality and human health. James will also cover some measures that can be taken to remediate contaminated materials.

Speaker Bio

Mr James Townsend – Senior Associate

James brings expertise in Plant Pathology to Hawkins. He has had over 25 years’ experience in the field, and for ten of those he has managed diagnostic plant clinics providing diagnoses for a range of UK and overseas crop problems for customers. He is experienced in investigating the causes of plant diseases, crop failures and spoilage of fresh produce and enhances Hawkins’ capabilities in the areas of Agriculture & Forestry, Cargo Spoilage, Contamination & Pollution, Marine & Shipping.

James studied Applied Biology at Brunel University and his industrial placement project on the genetic resistance to the disease apple scab at HRI-East Malling, now NIAB-EMR, inspired him to pursue a career in plant pathology.

James spent 12 years as a Senior Research Assistant in the Plant Pathology Department at Rothamsted Research, the oldest agricultural research institute in the world. He worked on projects to breed genetic resistance to diseases in oilseed crops and published research into the effects of climate change on plant diseases in the UK.

James was a Project Manager in Plant Pathology for six years at Stockbridge Technology Centre where he managed a portfolio of field and glasshouse research projects and the Plant Clinic, gaining extensive experience in plant disease diagnostic techniques.

James joined Hawkins after four years at Berry Gardens, the UK’s leading berry and stone fruit production and marketing group, where he was the Applied Plant Pathologist for the grower cooperative. He set up the plant disease diagnostic laboratory, used his expertise to diagnose crop problems and fruit rots and advise growers on disease management strategies.

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