Strain Development, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Fermentation Process Development, Scale-Up, Enzymology, Precision Fermentation, Technology Assessment, Technical Due Diligence

Dr. Ryding has spent more than 25 years developing microbial strains and fermentation processes across the industrial biotechnology sector, in both entrepreneurial and large-corporate settings. He now advises companies and investors on technology strategy, scale-up readiness, and technical due diligence.

Most recently, as Vice President of Research, Biotechnology at ADM, he led the company’s biotechnology research organization and its transition from conventional strain development to a modern synthetic biology and lab-automation platform, supporting fermentation programs spanning amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, probiotics, and polyols. He also provided technical assessments to ADM’s M&A and Ventures activities and helped shape strategy for the company’s precision fermentation business.

Earlier, at BP Biofuels, he led fungal strain construction for the lignocellulosic biofuels program, developing commercial cellulase-expression strains in Trichoderma reesei; and at Diversa/Verenium he built enzyme expression and high-throughput screening capabilities in Aspergillus niger.

Dr. Ryding is the founder of Apex Bio Consulting, an independent advisory practice in industrial biotechnology. He earned a Ph.D. in bacterial genetics from the University of East Anglia, working at the John Innes Centre under Prof. Keith Chater FRS, and holds a BSc in Microbiology and Microbial Technology from the University of Warwick. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Georgia and Michigan State University. Contact Jamie.