Neutrog Australia has appointed a renowned mycologist to its Biological Advisory Board, further boosting the company’s research and development capability.

Dr Sally Fryar brings more than 30 years’ experience to the Adelaide-based biological fertiliser company as a researcher, academic tutor and lecturer with particular interest and expertise in fungal ecology, evolution and systems.

A Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University, Dr Fryar has also been a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hong Kong and a visiting fellow at the University Brunei Darussalam.

Neutrog Managing Director Angus Irwin said Dr Fryar’s appointment aligned with the company’s strong and growing commitment to R&D for the benefit of growers, farmers and communities – locally and globally.

“Understanding fungi is crucial for food security,” Mr Irwin said. “Fungal diseases can significantly impact overall soil health leading to crop losses, food safety issues and risks to human health. While work being done around the world to expand our understanding of the capacity of microbes, including fungi, is still in its infancy; Neutrog is punching well above its weight. Our focus on research with practical, real-world application gives us the capability to positively impact food production, with alternatives to traditional chemical control measures.

Sally’s expertise in identifying and describing new environmental fungal species aligns with the work we are doing and will be enormously beneficial alongside the collective experience of the current Board.”

Neutrog’s Biological Advisory Board provides global expertise in biological research, soil, plants and product development guiding Neutrog’s Research and Development team. The Board is led by led by Professor Paul Manning, previously the Head of Molecular Sciences at Astra Zeneca in the USA and comprises Associate Professor Renato Morona Associate Professor Kirsty Bayliss and now also Dr Sally Fryar.

Dr Fryar said she was excited by the opportunity to contribute and looked forward to sharing her knowledge and insights.

“I am one of a very unique group to find fungi extremely interesting,” Dr Fryer said.

“The opportunity to explore the capacity of existing and new fungal species in Neutrog’s microbe bank genuinely excites me, particularly through the lens of real-world applications for farmers, and gardeners looking to control diseases and enhance crop yield.”

Neutrog has built a world-leading reputation for its R&D on microbes that inhibit soil and plant diseases, currently costing global agricultural and horticultural production billions of dollars in both prevention and treatment, most often with chemicals.

The company is progressing with a new $3.5 million research and education facility development at its Kanmantoo headquarters.