Mary Robinson, prominent producer and agricultural entrepreneur, with an extensive history of activism to ensure that farmers’ voices are heard in policy formulation and the future of the sector.
San José, 10 March 2025 (IICA) – Mary Robinson, a farmer and agribusiness entrepreneur with a long history of advocacy to ensure farmers have a voice in discussions on policies and the future of the sector, has been honored as one of the “Leaders of Rurality of the Americas” by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Robinson, who was appointed as a senator in the Canadian Parliament at the beginning of 2024, will receive the “Soul of Rurality” award, which is part of an initiative by the specialized agency for agricultural and rural development to recognize the work men and women who leave a lasting impact and make a difference in rural areas across the Americas—key to global food and nutrition security and environmental sustainability.
She has stood out as a member of organizations that defend the interests of the agricultural sector at the provincial, national, and international levels, earning significant recognition both within and beyond her country. She has served as President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), founded in 1935 and now representing approximately 200,000 farmers in Canada, as well as Vice President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), an international body dedicated to empowering rural communities, with a particular focus on small-scale farmers.
Robinson has lived her entire life on Prince Edward Island (PEI), located on Canada’s Atlantic coast. With a population of 200,000, the island’s economy is primarily driven by agriculture. It is connected to the mainland by a 14-kilometer bridge.
Her family has been farming on the island since 1810. Robinson is the sixth generation involved in agricultural production and agribusiness. Today, the Robinson Group of Companies includes Eric C. Robinson Incorporated, Island Lime, PEI Agromart, and ECR Holdings. The conglomerate engages in various sectors, including potato cultivation and processing, grain and forage production, and the provision of services for farmers—such as equipment and technology sales, agronomic consulting, seed and fertilizer distribution, and crop protection solutions.
The Leaders of Rurality Award recognizes individuals who play a dual, irreplaceable role: guaranteeing food and nutrition security while also safeguarding the planet’s biodiversity through agricultural production in all circumstances. The initiative also aims to highlight positive examples that can inspire rural communities across the region.
Mary Robinson has distinguished herself as a member of organizations that defend the interests of the agricultural sector at the provincial, national and international levels, which has earned her great recognition inside and outside her country.
A tradition of over two centuries
“For more than 200 years, our family has worked in agriculture on Prince Edward Island, the most densely populated province in Canada, with about 200,000 inhabitants spread over 5,600 square kilometers. In many areas of our country, you can travel long distances without seeing any population, but on the island, there are many small communities throughout the territory,” she explains.
The dominant agricultural activity on Prince Edward Island is potato cultivation and processing, though the province’s agricultural potential and output are much broader.
“We have 80,000 acres (about 32,000 hectares) of potatoes. But the province also produces wheat, corn, soybeans, and other grains, along with livestock farming for both meat and dairy. We also have a thriving aquaculture industry. Mussels, oysters, and other shellfish are farmed here. Food production is the main driver of our economy,” Robinson notes.
She studied Economics and Business at Acadia University and has served as President of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture. She is also the first woman to lead the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Additionally, she was named one of the 25 most influential women in Canada’s Atlantic region by Atlantic Business Magazine.
From the beginning, Mary knew she wanted not only to do her job well but also to make a difference and contribute to equal opportunities.
“I come from a part of Canada where women have successfully earned a seat at the decision-making table. I was President of the island’s federation of women farmers for more than ten years. I was the third woman to hold that position, and I’m very proud of it. Later, I became the first woman president of the national federation, and I believe that being the first is great, but so is being the third or fourth. Women need to follow their passions and believe in themselves to take part in decision-making,” she explains.
Her commitment to participating in farmer organizations stems from her conviction that those working in rural areas to produce food must not be absent from the spaces where agricultural policies are shaped.
The Rural Leaders Award is a recognition for those who fulfill a double irreplaceable role: being guarantors of food and nutritional security and at the same time guardians of the planet’s biodiversity through production in any circumstance.
“Countries and international organizations,” she says, “make decisions that impact farmers, such as policies on climate change or trade. The role of our organizations is to ensure that farmers—who understand how these decisions affect rural areas—have a seat at the table.”
For Mary Robinson, leadership is about service: a leader must know how to listen, take in messages, and act accordingly. “I come from a place of privilege, but my inspiration,” she states, “has been the courage and resilience I have seen in so many people in rural areas who overcome obstacles and disadvantages. Farmers take great pride in what they do every day.”
She is passionate about agriculture, an industry that, contrary to what many believe, she sees as deeply connected to change and new technologies. “I work with precision agriculture, and our island is heavily involved in food production innovation. I see many young people recognizing that agriculture is much more than working on a farm—it offers many opportunities. With its deep roots, strong values, and the potential to benefit from new technologies, agriculture opens doors to the future. No other industry brings together such diversity.”
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
