Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscape designer who has been cultivating mushrooms both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years. He is the author of the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014) and has won numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award, and the Gary Lincoff Award. His ongoing research projects include bacterial interactions with fungi, mycopesticides, novel antibiotic discovery, and the isolation of native mycorrhizal species for bioregional-specific inoculants for plants. In 2022, Tradd sold Mushroom Mountain, which he founded in 1996, to pursue his interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy and to focus on research in the medical field. Tradd currently is co-owner of Blue Portal, a mycologically-focused company specializing in psychedelic therapy and cultivation, medicinal innovations, and industrial applications for fungi.