Deborah Kane's passion for promoting local and sustainable agriculture places her at that critical junction where the culinary arts and the sustainable agriculture movement intersect. A tireless advocate for sustainable agriculture and food-related industries, Deborah is deeply committed to making an abundant, affordable and healthy food system a reality. During the past decade, Deborah has nurtured an academic and theoretical understanding of food and farming-related issues, and established a proven track record for successfully advancing sustainable food and farming programs.

Deborah currently serves as Vice President of Food and Farms at Ecotrust, a Pacific Northwest-based organization dedicated to building Salmon Nation, a place where people and wild salmon thrive. By promoting the seasonal products of local farmers and striving to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture on healthy watersheds, Ecotrust is fostering a regional food system in the Pacific Northwest. Deborah leads key Food and Farms initiatives, such as: Market Connections, Farm to School, and the quarterly publication Edible Portland.

An enthusiastic and skilled communicator, Deborah served as host and co-creator of a television show called The Head Table, and provides counsel to Live Wire Radio, a monthly Oregon Public Broadcasting program taped in front of a live studio audience. Equally at ease at the podium, in front of the camera, or one-on-one, Deborah is a respected national media source and frequent lecturer on sustainable agriculture. In 2003 Deborah was named one of "50 great leaders" in the state of Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine and appointed by Oregon Governor Kulongoski to serve on the Oregon Sustainability Board.