A solution to malnutrition and food security
May 18, 2021 7:40 AM
Una Hobday
A solution to malnutrition and food security

Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group creates science-based educational materials that explain what nutritional food is, why human bodies need it and how to grow and use it. These materials are designed to empower people, mainly women, so that they can knowledgeably choose what plants to grow and eat to nutritiously feed themselves and their families.  The group is centred in Tasmania.

Volunteer agronomists use Food Plants International data base, created by Bruce French OAM who has been working on this for over 40 years, to identify information on what we consider could be potentially important plants for a country.  The database houses over 32,000 plants from all countries.

Programs are currently underway in approximately 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Western Pacific, South America and Central America.  The most important component in each program is a local partner. They have the local knowledge, networks, resources and they are invested in its outcomes.

Examples of the materials and current operations are on the group’s website www.foodplantsolutions.org

PDG Una Hobday OAM was the first female president of a Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Hollywood Western Australia. She was also the first female District Governor in the southern hemisphere being elected DG District 9540, 1999 – 2000.

Una is Chair of Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group.

She has held many Rotary District roles in Western Australia and Tasmania, having moved to the Island State in 2001, and she is currently a member of Rotary Club of Hobart.  Her working life commenced as a General Nurse at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.  In latter years she has fulfilled administrative roles in health such as a District Health appointment, Manager Alcohol and Drug Service and State Manager for Adoption Services.

Una and her late husband have four adult children.