Martha Jane Robbins

“Food Sovereignty policy initiatives and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program” - Executive Summary - Full Report - Article in Union Farmer Monthly (Vol. 57, issue 5)   September 2007: "NAFTA reshaping North American Labour   Patterns: Following the migrant Worker Trail" - Free Trade's Refugees: Mexico's migrant workers at home   and abroad, Briarpatch magazine, November 07

Bio

Martha is currently the International Coordinator for the National Farmers Union. She has also worked as Fair Travel Coordinator with the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, Prairies Organizer for the Canadian Federation of Students, Ministerial Assistant for the Minister of the office of Energy Conservation and the Minister of the Public Service Commission (2003) and held elected positions within the National Farmers Union (including as Youth President from 1999 to 2003). Martha has also volunteered on the National board of the Council of Canadians, National Farmers Union's International Program Committee, Oxfam, Saskatoon Peace Coalition and Child Hunger and Education Program. She has traveled to many places around the world studying different types of farming techniques and policy issues that impact the farmers' livelihoods. In 2002 Martha was named one of Maclean's '25 leaders of tomorrow' for her groundbreaking work in this field.

Martha has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours Degree) in International Studies - Development Stream (2004) from the University of Saskatchewan. Martha speaks English and Spanish.

Issue of Investigation

As a 2006 recipient of the Gordon Global Fellowship, Martha investigated the political, human and international implications of Canada's migrant farm worker program and proposed policy initiatives that uphold Canadian values of equality and dignity. Food sovereignty was explored as a potential remedy to a global food system based on migrant workers, industrial food production and disintegrating rural communities at home and abroad.