Ottawa—Senator Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture from 2019 to 2023, has been honoured by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with a Soul of Rurality Award for her work as a farmer and farm leader.

Robinson, a sixth-generation farmer who was active in several farm organizations, was appointed to the Senate last year. IICA said the award is part of its initiative to give visibility to men and women who leave their mark and make a difference in the countryside of the Americas, key to food and nutritional security and environmental sustainability of the planet.

Robinson’s family has been farming on PEI since 1810, and she 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. Robinson is also vice-president of the World Farmers' Organisation.

The Rurality Award recognizes individuals who play a key role in providing 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.”

IICA said, “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.”

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, Robinson 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 10 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 said.

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 dual and irreplaceable role: being guarantors of food and nutritional security while also serving as guardians of the planet’s biodiversity through agricultural production under any circumstances.

“Countries and international organizations make decisions that impact farmers, such as policies on climate change or trade,” she said. “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 her, 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 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 said.

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.”

This news item prepared for National Newswatch