Frank Mulcahy

From the soil of Tasmania to seed crops on four continents.

Frank Mulcahy is an agronomist specialising in seed potato certification and seed production, with deep experience developing seed potato production systems in challenging growing environments around the world.

For much of his career he operated the field research and development programme for Australia's largest processed potato and vegetable food company. Through his independent practice — Spud Doctor — he continues to provide research and agronomic guidance to clients across the industry.

His work has taken him into the earth of Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran, China, Canada and the United States.

Career depth

Frank managed the research team and budget improving productivity and profitability for grower-suppliers to Simplot Australia's processing facilities — overseeing around fifty potato and vegetable research projects each year — and managed Simplot's seed potato production programme, reducing seed rejections and improving seed vigour.

He developed an early-generation seed potato programme in New Zealand, managed the government-provided Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (TasSeed) including the transition of growers to a minituber-based system, and provided agronomic expertise to Technico — India's biotechnology-based seed potato company using proprietary TECHNITUBER® technology — supporting the expansion of early-generation seed production across multiple countries.

He has served on the Australian Processing Potato Industry Advisory Committee (2008–2014), the national research advisory committee and Technical Oversight Group, the steering committee for national certified seed potato standards, and as an Australasian advisor to the World Potato Congress. A collaborative project with the University of Sydney produced the publication "Understanding spatial variability in potato cropping to improve yield and production efficiency."