A Solution That Ends Malnutrition

Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group (FPSRAG) is a dynamic project that focuses on addressing malnutrition, hunger and food security using readily available local food plants.

FPSRAG creates educational resources to help people, particularly women, understand the connection between plant selection and nutrition. It empowers them to grow a range of plants with differing seasonal requirements and maturities.

Una Hobday, Chair of the Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group. Trained as a nurse, Una and has worked in many fields, including manager of Western District Health, with four small hospitals, and manager of the Alcohol and Drug Service. She has served as the first female president of the Rotary Club of Hollywood, Western Australia. In 1999 - 2000 she served as Governor of the then-District 9540 Western Australia. She also served that District as Assistant Governor, District Trainer, member of Rotary Foundation Committee, and Member of the Bale Eye Clinic Committee. In 2001 she moved to Tasmania and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Hobart, Tasmania. In that District 9830, she has served as District Rotary Foundation Chair, District Conference Chair and many other District and Club committees.

Malnutrition and other serious health problems, such as blindness, intellectual disabilities, anaemia and impaired growth are due to the lack of balanced nutrition in the diet. FPSRAG’s approach is a sustainable solution to hunger, malnutrition and food security that is cost-effective and proven to work.

In Vietnam, working with AOG world Relief Vietnam, FPSRAG has established school gardens. Children are taught about the plants, how to grow them, why their bodies need the nutrients from these plants and then how to use (eat) those plants. Parents see the benefits of the school garden and replicate them in their home gardens. Our latest results from school gardens, across 8 schools, shows malnutrition reduced by 40-100% in one year!

In Ecuador, Richard Miller, Rotary Club of Los Chillos Milenio has said “I just want to say BRAVO for the work in producing materials such as this guide. To me it is a perfect example of what Rotary is about, well done.”