Denise O'Brien, Atlantic, IA, is coordinator of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network which links and amplifies women’s voices on issues of food systems, sustainable communities and environmental integrity. WFAN has nearly 150 members from 25 states and several foreign countries.

She said her global perspective and interest began developing during the time she spent as a foreign exchange student to Japan. For nearly 30 years, her work and advocacy have taken her all over the world and have given her the larger perspective of the global dynamics in such areas as commodities and world trade.

While she has traveled extensively to learn about and promote food issues, Denise stressed the importance of thinking globally and acting locally. She has been very active in her own community as an organic farmer and proponent of niche farms and community-supported agriculture, beginning during the 1980's farm crisis and continuing through today. She was the recent recipient of the Athena Award from the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce -- an award recognizing her long-time commitment and leadership skills in the community.

She is on the Board of Directors of Agricultural Missions, Inc., an affiliated agency of the National Council of Churches. She and others have made numerous country site visits to study food and agricultural issues impacting those countries. Denise is also involved in the activities of the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture, an organization of community-supported agriculture farms.

Denise closed by emphasizing to the group the importance of women's representation in agriculture -- as land owners and in the legislature as policy and decision-makers, both in the US and around the world.

For more information about Women, Food and Agriculture go to: www.wfan.org. Other sites recommended by Denise:
Care USA: www.careusa.org; UN Africa Recovery: www.un/esa/desa.htm

(click on images for larger view)
       
L to R: Denise O'Brien, Participants

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