The Global Foundation for Agricultural Journalism (GFAJ) has reached a milestone with the election of its first full board of trustees, which includes two representatives associated with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Enivironmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This marks an important step forward for the newly established charity as it embarks on its mission to enhance and promote agricultural journalism and communication on a global scale.

Founded in October 2023 and registered in the United Kingdom, GFAJ was inspired by the impactful work of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). For nearly 70 years, IFAJ has been instrumental in improving the flow and quality of information to farmers worldwide, while also advocating for press freedom in countries where it remains under threat. GFAJ will build on this legacy, bringing renewed energy and resources to the cause.

The trustees were elected in an online vote held throughout August, with IFAJ’s executive members selecting from a pool of 20 candidates representing IFAJ’s 60 country associations. Additionally, three external trustees were elected, bringing in diverse perspectives and expertise.

The elected trustees from member guilds include:

• Jane Craigie (UK), agricultural communicator
• Lena Johansson (Sweden), freelance agricultural journalist and former IFAJ President
• Jefferson Massah (Liberia), agricultural radio journalist
• Leigh Radford, OAM (Australia), agricultural broadcaster with the ABC
• Owen Roberts (Canada/U.S.), agricultural journalist and director of the agricultural communications program, and former IFAJ president
• İsmail Ugural (Türkiye), agrifood writer and journalist
• Jacqueline Wijbenga (Netherlands), agricultural communications adviser with the University of Wageningen

The external trustees appointed are:

• Franz Fischler (Austria), agricultural business consultant and former EU Commissioner for Agriculture
• Luke McKelvie (U.S.), Global Farmer Program Manager at McDonald’s and ACES alum
• Ben Freeth, MBE (Zimbabwe), farmer, human rights activist, and Executive Director of the Mike Campbell Foundation

"I'm honored to serve on the inaugural board of trustees for this foundation," Roberts said. "Projects supported by the foundation will provide new and exciting opportunities for emerging and established agricultural journalists and communicators. At the same time, the foundation gives sponsors a structured, transparent approach for lending their support to the professionals that they count on for clear communications, for everything from balanced reporting and issues management to technology mobilization and a better understanding of science." 

These ten trustees will be joined by Magda du Toit, the IFAJ Treasurer, who was elected during the IFAJ Presidium elections in August. du Toit, a self-employed agricultural journalist and communications specialist from South Africa, will play a key role in the foundation’s leadership.

"GFAJ is, in essence, IFAJ 2.0," said Adrian Bell, IFAJ Secretary General. Bell, who also served as IFAJ Treasurer, played a pivotal role in the foundation's creation alongside then-Vice President and current IFAJ President, Steve Werblow. "This is a bigger, better, and brighter version of IFAJ. GFAJ’s official recognition under UK charity governance enables us to engage with new partners and access new funding sources. This will be crucial in supporting agricultural journalists worldwide with education, training, and practical assistance."

"Agricultural journalists are vital to the global farming community, providing essential information to farmers while also educating consumers, policymakers, businesses, regulators, and other stakeholders," Bell added. "The establishment of GFAJ is a formal acknowledgment of the public benefit that agricultural journalism provides."