Alastair is Fermtech’s product development director, managing and optimising applications of their ingredient products and the best use cases of. He is responsible for R&D development and use of fermentation products in food ingredient applications and diversifying their growing portfolio of these. Alastair first joined Fermtech in 2023 for an internship during his PhD programme as part of the Oxford BBSRC DTP, and upon submitting his thesis immediately rejoined the company in his current position. His PhD project was undertaken with Dr. Verena Kriechbaumer on bioengineering in plant systems, following a masters by research in the same setting. Between undergraduate and masters Alastair gained experience as a chef in East Sussex, where he further developed his lifelong passion for sustainable, delicious food. For his undergraduate degree, he studied at the University of Surrey, with a focus on microbiology and use of natural product isolates.