Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy is a Professor of International Seed and Cropping Systems and Director of the WSU Breadlab at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). He leads specialty crop breeding and agronomy programs focused on increasing genetic and bio-diversity in cropping systems, particularly in Washington State and internationally in Rwanda, Malawi, and Ecuador. His work emphasizes crops like quinoa, barley, spelt, buckwheat, and millets, prioritizing nutritional value, climate resilience, and sustainable farming practices.

Education: Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics (WSU), M.A. in Anthropology (University of Idaho), M.S. in Crop Science (WSU), and B.A. in Biology (Colorado College). Teaching includes courses on agroecology and sustainable food systems. He serves on boards for the Crop Science Society of America, Global Rice Research Foundation, and Open Source Seed Initiative. Recent awards include Fulbright Global Scholarships and WSU’s Faculty of the Year Award.

Research interests span crop-breeding innovations, agronomic practices (e.g., intercropping, no-till farming), and nutritional profiling of crops. His work bridges agriculture, nutrition, and public health, exemplified by WSU’s Soil to Society project, which aims to enhance food nutrient density from soil to consumer. Key publications focus on quinoa and barley genetics, crop adaptation, and biofortification strategies.

Awards and grants include a $10M USDA-NIFA grant for nutrient-enriched crops and a FFAR grant for quinoa research. Labs include the WSU Breadlab and Sustainable Seed Systems Lab. He collaborates globally to address food security and sustainable agricultural practices through participatory breeding and crop diversification.