Jamaican coffee grower recognised by IICA as Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Dorienne Rowan Campbell, a Jamaican woman who has dedicated decades to agriculture, owns a small organic coffee farm producing top-quality beans that has become a model of sustainable practices, and has served as a lifelong mentor to other small Caribbean producers, has been distinguished as one of the Leaders of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Rowan Campbell will receive the “Soul of Rurality” award, part of an initiative by the specialized organization for agricultural and rural development to recognize men and women who leave their mark and make a difference in rural areas of the Americas—and whose work is crucial for food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

“My work is to be the voice of small farmers and to help drive the changes that strengthen them and allow them to achieve a good standard of living,” she says.

In 2001, Rowan Campbell was one of the founders of the Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement (JOAM), where she served for several years as president of an organization dedicated to making organic farming economically viable by paving the way for certification, training inspectors, and establishing demonstration farms.

Through JOAM, Rowan Campbell and her colleagues have trained around 150 women in the Caribbean who are interested in organic agriculture. In recognition of her contributions to food production and women’s rights, she was honored by the Jamaican government and received an award from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an environmental entrepreneur.

Her farm, Rowan’s Royale Farm, is located in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, where some of the world’s most sought-after coffee is produced. Since 2004, the farm has been inspected and has obtained the Certification of Environmental Standards (CERES), an international document awarded to those who practice sustainable farming.

Even before climate variability became widely recognized as a global issue affecting crops, she noticed its impacts on her farm and understood the need to preserve biodiversity through nature-based solutions. Today, she is an inspector for a certification system and trains other Jamaican farmers, combining efforts to produce high-quality coffee while protecting the environment.

The Leaders of Rurality award recognizes individuals who play a dual, irreplaceable role: guaranteeing 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.

Dorienne also holds Canadian citizenship, though she insists her heart belongs to Jamaica. “I learned the work and use my farm as a training ground for other small farmers because, unless people can see a model in action, it’s very difficult to break old, ingrained habits,” she explains. She is also a member and holds a leadership role in the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association.

Rowan Campbell leads a group of about 15 women she calls “eco warriors,” whom she trains in agricultural and economic matters. These women go on to spread their knowledge in their communities, with a particular focus on youth.

Source: Jamaica Observer