John Bowman’s 40-year career in international agricultural development has spanned several continents, dozens of developing nations, and countless projects. His dedication has been instrumental in uplifting communities and enhancing food security around the globe. It all started with his education at UW, including a master’s degree in Ibero-American studies in 1978 and a master’s degree in plant pathology from CALS in 1980. He has recently retired from federal service, so CALS took the opportunity to learn about his experiences.

Please tell us a little about your career.

Early on, I worked for international agricultural research entities, such as the International Center for Maize and Wheat Research and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, and I managed global potato supply chains for multinational firms such as PepsiCo/Frito Lay and Universal Robina Corporation.

But most of my work was with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a branch of the State Department. There, I managed programs and projects related to food security, agricultural research, and human nutrition. I led horticulture and integrated pest management programming in the Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, a global food security directive launched by the Obama administration. I also brought increased attention and funding to FTF efforts in food safety, food processing, and food waste and loss reduction in developing countries. I’m particularly proud of the time spent there as a certified USAID Mentor for young staffers. 

What have you been spending your time on most recently?

I spent the last two years of my federal career working internationally as an assistant director for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I led more than 150 staff in in 20-plus countries in efforts to inspect, preclear, and certify millions of tons of agricultural produce for fast-tracked entry into the U.S.

How was your UW CALS education instrumental in your work?

Going to grad school at UW set the foundation for my international career. The master’s degree in Ibero-American studies enabled me to do a deep dive into the history, politics, literature, sociology, and anthropology of Latin America, a region where I would eventually spend a significant amount of my career in agricultural development. In particular, the fate of the Amazon and its native peoples fascinated me. My real breakthrough at UW came when the late Professor Luis Sequeira facilitated my acceptance into the highly competitive plant pathology graduate program at CALS in 1978. I didn’t have the proper background credentials — courses in agronomy, soils, and botany — to get in easily, but he believed that I was determined to embark upon a career in international agriculture using a CALS master’s in plant pathology as my technical launch pad for success. Professor Sequeira sensed my passion, believed in my dream, and did all he could to support it.

Where does your desire to pursue agricultural development stem from?

Much of my enthusiasm to switch from area studies into agriculture was due to shoptalk with my two grad school roommates, who happened to be doctoral students in the CALS agronomy department. Conversations at the kitchen table about their research inspired me towards agriculture and the plant pathology degree. I followed up my time at CALS with a Ph.D. in plant pathology at the University of Illinois. In virtually all my subsequent career assignments, skills I learned through the pursuit of plant pathology would be critical to my success. I can’t thank Professor Sequeira enough for having a great deal of faith in me and giving me a chance to launch my career at CALS.

Looking back, what are your thoughts on your career now?

I had an extremely fulfilling career, during which I was afforded many opportunities that shaped who I am today. I received multiple degrees from some of the world’s best universities, worked in both the private and public sectors to enact change, and interacted with and supported thousands of small farmers around the world, hopefully making a positive impact on many of their lives. It was almost surreal to be entrusted with such large matters. It proved to me that what I was doing mattered.

What’s next?

Post retirement, I am living in Ann Arbor, MI. But just because my career is done, it doesn’t mean that I can’t stay engaged in opportunities to mentor youth who are interested in getting involved in international agricultural development. If I can help even one more young person successfully navigate a transformational event that leads to a successful career in international agriculture, as Professor Sequeira did for me, I will feel extremely fulfilled. I want to pay it forward and return a great favor.