International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Vice President Owen Roberts, Director for Research Communications at the University of Guelph, had some great news to share about the organization’s outreach efforts during the IFAJ 2013 Congress.

IFAJ has 33 member country guilds, but Owen says they have been working on expanding that to become even more global. “That has started a bunch of programs such as the Master Class which brings in journalists from, this year Latin American countries,” he said. “A program called Exposure for Development, which takes journalists to countries such as Uganda and Kenya.” In addition, the IFAJ newsletter is now offered in French to reach out to West African countries.

Owen also talked about the formation at the Congress of a Latin American ag journalists network, which included 15 countries, and outreach to the United Nations FAO to see how they can work together to achieve similar goals. Interview with IFAJ VP Owen Roberts

Besides being a great proponent of agricultural journalism, Owen also plays a mean guitar and it has been a tradition for many years at IFAJ for him and fellow members like bass player Mike Wilson to entertain the Congress. They get better every year!

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album