Prof. Menary has demonstrated scientific merit in elucidating the principles which underlie horticultural practice in hops, poppies, essential oil crops and sub-tropical fruits and vegetables. This work unravelled some of the complex interactions between the environment and the direction of biosynthetic pathways for the production of important secondary metabolites.
He has developed extraction techniques to maintain the freshly crushed herb character for which end users pay a premium. To mechanise the harvesting of blackcurrants, boronia and pyrethrum. Prof. Menary has worked with engineers to alter plant morphology to compliment machine design to achieve efficient harvesting.