In 2026, the global agricultural community will place special focus on the role of women in agriculture for the first time. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer following a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, according to EastFruit.
The initiative aims to highlight women’s contributions to global agrifood systems — from production and processing to trade and scientific research. At the same time, it seeks to encourage policies and investments that help close persistent gender gaps in access to resources, technologies, and opportunities.
For this reason, International Women’s Day this year is not only an occasion to discuss equality, but also an opportunity to highlight the critical role women play in the development of modern agribusiness.
The women without whom agriculture would not function
According to FAO estimates, nearly 40% of all working women worldwide are employed in agrifood systems, ranging from crop production to processing, logistics, and trade.
Women are present across virtually every stage of agricultural value chains: on farms and in orchards, in greenhouses and laboratories, in logistics companies, retail networks, and international export operations.
Today, the concept of a “woman farmer” extends far beyond the traditional perception of a farm owner. It includes producers, seasonal workers, agronomists, researchers, entrepreneurs, traders, beekeepers, advisors, and many other professionals who sustain the functioning of agrifood systems.
Despite their extensive involvement, women’s contributions often remain underrepresented in policymaking, investment priorities, and sector leadership.
Why the gender gap in agriculture persists
In many countries, women working in agriculture still face limited access to land ownership, financing, modern equipment, and educational opportunities.
As a result of these structural constraints, farms managed by women may show productivity levels approximately 24% lower than those managed by men. However, research consistently shows that the difference is not due to skills or experience, but rather to unequal access to resources.
Climate change further exacerbates these disparities, as women frequently have fewer opportunities to invest in adaptation technologies.
At the same time, expanding women’s economic opportunities in agriculture could become a powerful driver of sectoral growth.
A trillion-dollar opportunity
According to FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, closing the gender gap in agriculture could increase global GDP by nearly one trillion dollars and reduce food insecurity for approximately 45 million people worldwide.
In other words, supporting women farmers is not only a matter of fairness. It is also one of the most effective strategies for strengthening global food security.
Ukraine: women shaping a modern agricultural sector
For Ukraine, this issue carries particular significance.
During the full-scale war, many women have taken on leadership roles in managing farms, agricultural enterprises, logistics operations, and food processing businesses. They continue to expand businesses, sustain employment in rural communities, and maintain the stability of agricultural production.
“Today, Ukrainian women in agribusiness are not only farmers or entrepreneurs. They are agents of change who, even in extremely difficult circumstances, continue to develop production, support communities, and seek innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture. Their experience and professionalism deserve to be heard far beyond Ukraine,” says Kateryna Zvierieva, Development Director of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association and founder of Sapienza.media.
“Leaders of Modern Agribusiness 2026”: a new media initiative
In connection with the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the agrimarketing agency Sapienza.media together with the international EastFruit project is launching a special media initiative titled “Leaders of Modern Agribusiness 2026.”
The goal of the initiative is to highlight the stories of women shaping Ukraine’s modern agricultural sector. Throughout the year, a series of articles and interviews will feature women working across different segments of the agrifood industry — from farming and horticulture to agricultural science, export markets, and agri-technology innovation.
Women working in agriculture are invited to submit their own stories or nominate colleagues whose experience and contributions deserve wider recognition:
https://forms.gle/gJLvKFovzfzw3VNW7
The most compelling stories will become the basis for a series of publications about women leading modern agribusiness and will also be nominated within the project.
When stories begin to transform an industry
The International Year of the Woman Farmer is intended not only to recognize the role of women in agriculture, but also to encourage real change in policies, investments, and the development of agrifood systems.
Because the future of agriculture depends not only on technologies or yields. It also depends on the people who work the land every day, create new opportunities for development, and shape the next generation of agribusiness.
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