Dr. Jim Peterson joined the WMC Laboratory Services board in 2023. He currently serves as a research consultant for the Idaho Wheat Commission. Dr. Peterson is uniquely experienced in all facets of wheat improvement, from strategies and practicalities of modern breeding, innovative public and private collaborations, end-use quality research, to managing variety release, IP, and production for commercial impact.
From 2010 to 2021, Peterson served as VP for Research for Limagrain Cereal Seeds, responsible for wheat research and breeding strategies, staffing, and implementation of new technologies. Dr. Peterson also managed research activities for the LCS sister company Limagrain Cereals Research Canada, which he helped launch in 2015.
From 1998 to 2010, Dr. Peterson was Professor of Wheat Breeding and Genetics with Oregon State University (OSU) and held the W.E. Kronstad Endowed Chair for Wheat Research. While with OSU, he was recipient of the Weatherford Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the OSU College of Business; and the Above and Beyond and Distinguished Service Awards from The Oregon Wheat Growers League. He has also served as Chair of the National Wheat Improvement Committee. Prior to 1998, he was with USDA-ARS in Lincoln, NE, as Research Agronomist, wheat breeder, and coordinator of the HRW Regional Nursery program.