DrAydin Enez

Broadly, my research interests include soil health, microbiology, and molecular biology. My main focus is investigating holistic approaches for improving soil health. These include exploration of different amendments that could be added to soil to boost crop yield, nutrition, reduce soil borne pests and diseases, and sequester carbon. To do this, I collaborate with a range of experts in the engineering and health spaces, and enthusiastic partners from local industries, government sectors, and philanthropic organisations.

At this stage, I am working with the following soil amendments:

• Glacial rock flour, particularly for its potential to boost soil health through enhanced rock weathering processes.
• Biochar
• Bioprill
• Compost
• Beneficial microbial inoculants

I’m also involved with projects that aim to quantify and reduce the loads of soil borne pests and diseases (e.g. fungi, oomycetes, and nematodes) using a combination of molecular methods such as qPCR and improving agroecological practices (e.g. intercropping). Similarly, I am also involved in projects looking to improve resilience of pastures to eliminate the summer feed gap for the grazing industry, reducing their susceptibility to drought and climate change. Recently, I have been collaborating with colleagues in the health space on a project exploring how the soil microbiome can positively influence the human gut and skin microbiomes.