Hong Zhu

A recognized biotech expert in fermentation, formulation, and industrialization of microbial solutions.

Dr. Hong Zhu has 20 years of industrial experience in agricultural biologics from discovery research, product development to manufacturing. Prior to joining BioConsortia, he was Director of Biologics Process Development at Bayer CropScience where he was responsible for fermentation, formulation and scale-up, as well as manufacturing support of Bayer's new and existing biological products. In 2014, Hong was elected as R&D Fellow into Bayer Expert Club, an esteemed group that recognizes the top scientists in the company.

Hong joined Bayer CropScience following its acquisition of AgraQuest, Inc., where he had been Director of Fermentation and Formulation. While at AgraQuest, Hong also established an advanced lead-screening platform and pipeline development strategy, periodically leading the company's fungicide pipeline program. Prior to AgraQuest, Hong was instrumental in the development of biofertility and biocontrol products at PhilomBios (now Novozymes BioAg) and Mycologic. Hong also has previous experience founding and leading his own company, MetaBios, in Canada, which developed and manufactured single-use bioreactors for cell culture, fermentation, and bioprocessing.

Hong holds a PhD from the University of Alberta and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Guelph in Canada. He is an inventor on multiple patents around fermentation processes, biopesticides, and plant growth promotion microbes, and has published numerous papers in the field of applied microbiology.