Jeremy Cowan, PhD

Biography

Jeremy Cowan grew up in Southern California, and cultivated a love for growing food in his family's small backyard garden. He received his B.S. in Horticulture Science from Brigham Young University and worked for a time in landscape construction in Utah, Oregon, and California. Jeremy then earned an M.B.A. with emphases in Marketing and New Venture Management from the University of San Diego. From there, Jeremy operated his own landscape construction company before enrolling at Washington State University for his Ph.D.

During his doctoral program, Jeremy studied the use of biodegradable plastic mulch films for producing vegetable crops in high tunnel and open field systems. He looked at the use of biodegradable plastic films to produce high quality vegetable crops, how well those plastics deteriorated in the soil environment, and how growers perceptions of biodegradable plastics were affected by hands-on educational opportunities.

Since completing his Ph.D., Jeremy has continued to work with biodegradable plastic mulch films, and extended his areas of interest to whole systems approaches to sustainable food production. With training in permaculture and significant work to develop and support the burgeoning food system around Spokane, WA, Jeremy has come to appreciate the human dimension of a more sustainable agriculture. His work focuses on training future growers [and eaters] the importance of growing food with people in mind—at every point along the production-consumption loop.

Education

• PhD Washington State University, Horticulture, 2013
• MBA University of San Diego, Marketing and New Venture Management, 2007
• BS Brigham Young University, Horticulture, 2003