Dr. John Davies, C'81

As the global population rises, scientists are developing innovative solutions to combat food insecurity and create a globally sustainable agriculture. At the forefront of these advancements is Dr. John Davies, an agricultural biotechnology and business professional with over 30 years of experience in academia, the corporate sector, and consulting.

A principal at JP Davies Consulting and interim chief scientific officer of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, Davies will be the Babson Center’s Bryan Viewpoints Speakers for the 2025 Easter semester. During his visit to Sewanee, he will meet with students and give a presentation, "From Academia to Industry: Learnings from My Career in Biotechnology," at 4:30 p.m., Tues., April 1, in Naylor Auditorium, Gailor Hall. All are welcome to attend.

Davies received a B.S. in biology from the University of the South, where he hung up his swimsuit to dive into laboratory research, focusing on molecular biology. Concern over food insecurity in the 1970's, inspired him to pursue graduate studies in plant biology and its application to agriculture—increasing crop yields through plant breeding. He earned a M.S. in agronomy and soils from Auburn University and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University.

On an academic track, Davies worked as a post-doctoral research associate at Carnegie Institution, and then as an assistant professor in the Botany Department at Iowa State University. He quickly realized the opportunities in the plant biotech industry and shifted to the corporate sector, working at Exelixis Plant Sciences, Dow AgroSciences, and a startup. Seeing how advancements in his field lowered costs in the agricultural industry, Davies went back to higher education, this time to earn an MBA at the University of Oregon.

In his current role at the GIFS, Davies applies genomic selection, a technology that combines plant breeding with molecular biology and quantitative genetics. “Enhancing sequencing technologies to address the real needs of growers and consumers is very gratifying,” he said. GIFS collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for a resilient and sustainable food supply while maintaining ecological responsibility and economic growth.

An expert in plant genetics, genomics, and biotechnology, Davies has authored over 30 scientific articles and holds more than 35 patents. Join us to hear how his scientific and business acumen is paving the way for global food security.

This visit is cosponsored by the Department of Biology and the Department of Economics and Finance.