As vice president of government affairs for the Torrey Advisory Group, Barbara Patterson provides strategic planning and execution on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues impacting the food and agriculture sector. She specializes in research, nutrition and hunger policy, food safety, and animal health. Patterson also leads several coalitions.

Barbara previously worked as government relations director for the National Farmers Union where she advocated for family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities before Congress and the executive branch. In this role, she also managed a cooperative agreement with the Food and Drug Administration to provide education and outreach to local food producers and processors on implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Barbara has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Michigan and a Master’s of Science degree in agriculture and nutrition policy from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She currently serves on the Friedman School’s Alumni Association Executive Council.