No Peace without a Healthy Planet
Recently I had the pleasure of speaking at a World Peace Day event. It was wonderful to see people from all walks of life come together to talk about PEACE and what it means to each of us. The event saw the the launch of the film “Making an impact with Peace”, which can be viewed on our YouTube Channel
Other speakers were:
*A Peace Advocate, who travels the world with his wife planting Peace Poles and talking to groups about Peace.
*A film maker who made the film, “Making an Impact with Peace”, which Rotary International has approved.
*Photographer, David Brill AM ACS, who has been a war photographer and foreign correspondent.
* I spoke about the outcomes of the work, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group, and the relationship between Peace and food security. This was interspersed with beautiful Shubert songs, sang by PP Ros Teirney.
So the questions we need to ask in this time, is “what can we do?”
Many groups around the world are trying to bring food to the refugees. They are doing a wonderful job in appalling situations. I think our role is to support these countries with rebuilding. We need now, to be ensuring that communities are able to be provide food security for their families. If you are working in a country and building a school, hospital, why not add a garden?
Please contact us if we can assist you to End Malnutrition.
PDG Una Hobday OAM PhF
Chair Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group
Service Above Self Awardee 23/24
Storytelling to Promote Healthier Diets and a healthier earth.
I am a story telling Crop Scientist who has dedicated her life to using the art of combining storytelling and science to promote better diets and a healthy environment among people who grow part of their food basket. My journey of using storytelling to influence behaviors in farming communities began in 2019 when there was an animal health crisis in Zimbabwe and farmers cattle were dying of tickborne diseases.
We at Welthungerhilfe, the organisation I have been part of for the past 11 years, started training them to raise their own funds for animal health supplies instead of waiting for heavily subsidised or free handouts from the Government and Non-Governmental Organisations which are intermittently available – while watching their cattle die. The campaign included a lot of storytelling, and it worked. Over three years farmers raised 1.6 million US dollars for their animal health supplies which was an unprecedented development in the country.
While I work with subsistence farming communities in rural Zimbabwe on a broad range of issues pertaining to food and nutrition security, my main interest is in designing cropping systems that promote affordable healthy diets, so I decided to carry my story telling journey to designing and promoting healthy diets. That is how the story of Buhlenkosi and Luthano in Gogo’s Magic Garden was born.
It is the story of how we can care for our land and produce healthy diets sufficiently as well how we can enjoy healthy meals from the magic garden, and the main characters are my daughters and Mom. This book is part of my PhD in Crop Science Research with the University of Reading.
We are rolling it out on both Rotary and Welthungerhilfe Nutrition and Education Projects. We focus on delivering the story and stimulating community behaviour shift through school children.
My vision is that, together with the Food Plants Solutions Action Group Rotary we will spread this message globally towards healthier diets and a healthier earth, and I look forward to sharing our journey with you.
With Love Rotarian Kudzai Nyengerai
Editor’s Note: Please contact us for more details
Pioneering Agroecology through unique Farmer Communication
Biovision Africa Trust
Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is at the forefront of promoting sustainable agriculture and agroecology in Africa. Our mission is to empower smallholder farmers by enhancing their capacity to adopt eco-friendly farming practices, thereby improving food security and biodiversity across the continent.
BvAT employs a unique approach to farmer communication. We believe that knowledge is key to farmer transformation. By facilitating farmers to share their experiences and learn from each other, we cultivate a community-driven approach to agroecology. Our innovative communication strategies include TOF Radio, TOF Magazine, Farmer Resource Centers, Farmer Group Trainings, and digital platforms that connect farmers to vital information about sustainable practices and market access such as KCOA and Infonet.
Since our inception, we have reached thousands of farmers across various African countries, helping them transition to agroecological methods that enhance soil health, reduce dependency on chemical inputs, and increase resilience against climate change. We have documented significant improvements in crop yields and household incomes among participating farmers, illustrating the tangible benefits of agroecology.
Moreover, BvAT collaborates with local organizations and stakeholders to spread its tentacles and ensure the effective implementation of its interventions to reach far and wide. In its collaboration with Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group, BvAT will gain access to knowledge products for farmer education for the KCOA initiative. This partnership will provide essential resources on important food plants for Kenya and Madagascar, over ten knowledge products for Rwanda, and a list of other knowledge products in different languages for Uganda among others. This will ultimately help us to enhance agricultural productivity and foster resilient farming communities for a brighter future.
In its commitment to creating a sustainable agricultural future in Africa, BvAT is cultivating a movement towards a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape for generations to come.
Collaboration and quality plant food reference guides
It is our joy to announce to you our ongoing pleasure at working with vibrant plants around the world to keep malnutrition at bay. We give gratitude to Food Plant Solutions for their comprehensive work in alleviating malnutrition with quality plant food reference guides in countries that need it most.
Reap Goodness is an American nonprofit adjusting the thinking of people globally to eat healthy permaculture foods to heal and support themselves and the planet at the same time. Imagine a world where the schoolchildren are the teachers of others on how to grow healthy perennial foods just right in their location for all of nature to support one another in harmony and ease. This is what we aim for by starting the process with adults in two desert locations in Arizona, USA.
With that in mind, we choose to protect a small area of land for public food forests by dividing the tasks needed into three groups of volunteers. First, there will be a group that divides the simple tasks of rainwater harvesting on land. Second, there will be a group who divides the tasks of planning and planting perennial trees, bushes and ground plants, all bearing foods for years. The third group allows for environmental plantings to restore the land and invite nature to provide pollinators and birds to thrive there.
Imagine this taking place outside every primary school in the world. That is our dream now being tested on desert soils that need priming and other supports. We at Reap Goodness are creating the training so school children worldwide will be the facilitators of learning to others around them to have healthy food outside their doors and eventually the world.
Be a voice, not an echo – with Lea Farrow Marketing
Supporting FPS with Strategic LinkedIn Growth
Not only a proud Tasmanian native, I’ve been a copywriter and marketing strategist in the online business world since 2016. After wrapping up my first career as a community pharmacist, I discovered a new passion – using my writing and digital skills to help business owners and organisations take control of their marketing and business growth.
Over the years, I’ve worked with more than a hundred businesses and organisations, helping them attract the right partners, supporters, and clients through tailored marketing strategies that drive real engagement and growth.
Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Food Plant Solutions (FPS) to strengthen their LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn is a powerful platform for both not-for-profits like FPS and many service-based businesses because it’s designed for building meaningful connections with strategic partners, potential sponsors, and prospective clients. By improving their LinkedIn strategy, FPS can increase their visibility and attract valuable partnerships that contribute to their critical work in improving global food security.
I’m passionate about working with organisations that create positive change, like FPS, and I love helping them use simple marketing tools to amplify their mission.
In your business or role, do you struggle to…
- Attract consistent, high-quality leads?
- Know what to post or how to engage on LinkedIn?
- Get your website or email marketing working effectively?
- Establish valuable relationships with potential partners and clients?
- Build a marketing strategy that feels sustainable and authentic?
If any of these sound familiar, I can help.
Whether it’s through LinkedIn strategies or broader marketing support, my goal is to help organisations like FPS and service-based businesses connect with the right people, engage their audience, and grow in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.
You can find me here:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-farrow/
Website – https://leafarrow.com/
Editor’s Note: Lea’s knowledge and engaging approach made the process not only very beneficial to Food Plant Solutions but also enjoyable. Lea is able to explain technical jargon and processes to the layperson, making solutions and action very achievable. Food Plant Solutions highly recommends Lea Farrow Marketing.
If you have a business that would like to support Food Plant Solutions, contact us today. With a global audience approaching 20,000 individuals, we can share your support with our network.
Make an Impact
Did you know that you can be a member of Food Plant Solutions and not be a Rotarian?
Did you know that your club or community group / organisation could be a member of Food Plant Solutions?
Individual Membership $A30 annually (or $A125 for 5 years)
Individual Champion $A100 annually (or $A400 for 5 years)
We have opportunities available for professionals to join our team in a variety of volunteer roles.
If you want to drive meaningful change, with a focus on climate-change resilient food production and make a difference to the lives of many, contact us today.
Internationally recognised, volunteering with Food Plant Solutions offers opportunities, in a meaningful and connected environment, whilst providing service and networking opportunities.
Donate with Confidence
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They help charities understand and meet their obligations through information, advice and guidance.
