Dr. Wayne Coates, who has a PhD in Agricultural Engineering, founded AZChia.com in 1991. He specializes in the production, evaluation and commercialization of chia seed. With a focus on crop and equipment development, he has conducted extensive testing to find better, more efficient ways to grow chia and harvest the nutritious seeds for human consumption. Dr. Coates is also a Professor Emeritus in the Office of Arid Land Studies at The University of Arizona.