Lisa Kivirist

A leading national advocate for championing the inspiring story of , Kivirist serves as a distinguished Kellogg Food and Society Policy Fellow with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), focusing on women in agriculture issues. Kivirist is co-author, with her husband, John Ivanko, of the award-winning ECOpreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet Before Profits, a fresh approach to entrepreneurial thinking that blends protecting the planet with small business pragmatics and Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life, capturing the American dream of farm living for contemporary times. Kivirist writes a column spotlighting national policy issues for the Women, Food & Agriculture Network (WFAN) and also writes for publications such as Hobby Farm Home and is a lead writer for Renewing the Countryside, a non-profit organization showcasing rural entrepreneurial and agricultural success stories.

Kivirist founded and directs the Rural Women’s Project, an innovative venture of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) that showcases and supports women-owned food-based businesses. She also runs FARM (Farm & Agriculture Resources for Media), a program of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) supporting journalists writing on sustainable agriculture issues.

Kivirist runs the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed and Breakfast with her family on their farm in southwest Wisconsin, completely powered by renewable energy and considered amongst the “Top Ten Eco-Destinations in North America.” Her culinary focus on organic, local and seasonal cuisine earned recognition in publications from Vegetarian Times to Country Woman and inspired her cookbook, Edible Earth: Savoring the Good Life with Vegetarian Recipes fro