Development Expert Rose Barbuto Joins Farm Journal Foundation

PHILADELPHIA, April 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Farm Journal Foundation announced that Rose Barbuto has been named the new Executive Director of External Relations. She will lead the Foundation's Washington office where she will oversee government relations activities, develop strategic alliances, and help develop new program platforms that build on the Foundation's work with US Farmers, next generation engagement, and national policy makers.  

"Rose brings a great depth of experience in global food and nutrition security and agriculture development policy," said Tricia Beal, CEO, Farm Journal Foundation. "Her proven success in developing impactful advocacy and government relations strategies for development organizations make her an excellent fit for our foundation."
Since its launch in 2010, The Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) has been bringing new voices to the agricultural development policy table, broadening the agriculture discussion, and serving as a bridge between development and agricultural groups through several platforms:
• Farmers Feeding the World, a national network of elite farmers passionate about the role of agriculture in addressing hunger around the world engage national policymakers to advance the government's commitment to agriculture in U.S. foreign policy.
• HungerU, a Next Generation engagement platform with 20,000 student advocates connects to university populations and policy makers, raising awareness of nutrition and food security issues.
• The Farm Journal Foundation Dialogue identifies important policy moments and delivers the best, updated information available to decision makers.
"I'm honored to join Farm Journal Foundation, Barbuto said. The Foundation is in an exciting period of growth and I'm looking forward to supporting its efforts to advance food security and foster economic development through agriculture."
Barbuto brings more than 15 years of development and advocacy experience in the United Nations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Barbuto joins the Foundation after serving as Country Director for the United Nations Office of Project Services in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Previously, she served as a Director of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Liberia, managing efforts to scale up the emergency response in the unprecedented fight against Ebola. Her nonprofit experience includes serving in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she developed and helped execute the foundation's U.S. government relations strategies on agricultural development, nutrition and trade. Barbuto began her development career with the United Nations World Food Programme, where she held positions in the executive office, Government Relations and in Africa.  She gained her legislative experience on Capitol Hill working for a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Barbuto earned her bachelor's degree in English literature and Italian literature from State University of New York at Buffalo.

DeLauro Calls for SNAP Benefits to be Reinstated for More Than a Half a Million Americans

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding news that hundreds of thousands of Americans would lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, as a result of states imposing time and work requirements.

“At a time when millions of Americans are still recovering from the Great Recession, we cannot take away one of the most critical lifelines we have in lifting people out of poverty. Food insecurity affects Americans of every age and eliminating SNAP benefits simply because someone has still not found work is unconscionable.

“While the economy continues to grow, we cannot fail to recognize how the recession continues to affect people across the country. From veterans who have returned from serving overseas, to older adults who lost a job just before retirement, these Americans are struggling to find work and depend on SNAP. Eliminating these benefits does nothing to enable these individuals to find work; it only makes their lives harder. I urge my colleagues to join me in standing up for our country’s most vulnerable and ensuring that they maintain their SNAP eligibility.”