Cultivating Change: Celebrating Women's Empowerment in Agri-food Transformation

Celebrating Women's Contribution to the Functioning and Development of Agri-Food Value Chains

In view of International Women's Day on March 8, we honor the achievements of women while also advocating for true inclusion and positive change. This year's theme, "Inspire Inclusion", extends to how investing in women can accelerate progress in all sectors of society. Our focus is to highlight their evolving role in the agri-food sector, where progress is notable. Still, there is a long way to go to truly establish gender equality and tackle economic disempowerment.

Throughout history, women have contributed to every aspect of the primary sector. However, it was not until very recently that they forayed into leadership roles in the broader agri-food value chains, impacting how food flows from the field to our table. The industry is undergoing a shift that is redefining its traditional operations; men have always dominated logistics, production, trading, and research. This shift helps us look forward to a future where women have greater access to the resources, opportunity, freedom, and platform to realize their full potential.

Pioneering Progress: Women in Agri-Science

The ingress of women into the field of agricultural sciences denotes a substantial turning point in the landscape. Women's accomplishments in biology, chemistry, and agronomy have pushed for growth and development in the field, paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive workforce; resulting in an array of benefits for the industry at large. However, this should only mark the beginning. For example, women's contribution to research in natural sciences only constitutes 23.3%. However, this number has been steadily increasing in recent years. Women are vital in driving significant knowledge-based initiatives, such as developing and implementing novel agricultural production techniques, creating new food ingredients and packaging materials, and innovating food processing and storage processes. Additionally, there has finally been a slow rise in the number of women holding far-reaching positions in agricultural policy development. The relevant figures still need to be higher; women only comprised 10 of the 52 participants in OECD's latest Meeting of Agriculture Ministers in 2022.

The team behind the Wikifarmer Library, deemed by the UN's FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) as the "Wikipedia of Farming", comprises 80% women agronomists. This proves the incredible contribution of women in agriculture, as the library is currently the most accredited source of free agricultural knowledge, available in 17 languages, providing farmers worldwide with access to up-to-date information and sustainable practices. The newly founded Wikifarmer Academy provides free and paid online courses and certifications on specific topics and crops. It is, again, run by a team with 4 out of 5 team members being women. The Library and Academy are dedicated to creating a sustainable and fair ecosystem for all. We are committed to transitioning from the current food system to a new, sustainable model. Our team of female agronomists and professionals aims to foster high-impact innovation and nurture a collaborative community.

Transforming Logistics and Operations

Women's participation in logistics and operations is also on the rise; this field, often perceived as male-dominated and exclusive to truck drivers and warehouse operators, is witnessing a paradigm shift with the increasing involvement of women. In our daily correspondence with several dozen businesses, we have seen this firsthand on the Wikifarmer Marketplace, with women leading the change by bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

In particular, the food tech startup scene has embraced inclusivity and tolerance as essential components of tackling business challenges and unlocking potential. By challenging traditional norms, women are pushing for new priorities in logistics and operations, such as sustainability and efficiency, that were once overlooked. "Playing our part as a business, we are committed to enhancing our efforts towards gender equality and women's empowerment. It's no secret that breaking into agribusiness, where women are the minority, is a challenging task. However, studies have shown that having a diverse workplace is better for a company's growth and financial performance. Different viewpoints and inputs result in more effective problem-solving", explains Sarah Heard, Head of People at Wikifarmer.

Redefining Agricultural Trading

Overall, women's engagement in commercial agriculture has vast room for improvement. Although agriculture remains the main source of income for millions of women worldwide, accounting for 37% of global rural agricultural employment (FAO, 2022a), accessing domestic and international agrifood markets remains a major challenge for them. These challenges often derive from gender gaps and inequalities in education, finance, access to market information, and business networks. With this issue in mind, Wikifarmer strives to smooth out these issues by educating women farmers online, giving them the tools they need to evolve and grow their businesses sustainably while giving them access to international markets and helping them build a strong network.

In addition, women's representation in decision-making processes and management positions is lower than men's. However, there has been a positive change in increasing female participation in recent years. In marketing and trading within the agri-food sector, women's engagement is growing, backed up by internal statistics: 50% of our employees in managerial positions in marketing are women, while an increasing percentage of decision-makers in sales and trading positions is also evident. An analysis of our "weekly digests" newsletters, addressed to professionals and procurement managers in the field, reveals that approximately 34% of recipients are females. These examples lead our efforts to develop a new way of doing business in the agri-food industry.

Harvesting equality

Women's journey up the agri-food sector's ladder is currently leading to breaking barriers and pioneering new frontiers for world food production and handling. From making significant contributions to science to reshaping logistics operations and leading marketing strategies, women are not just participating; they are leading. On this International Women's Day, let's acknowledge and celebrate the trailblazers redefining the agri-food sector.

This day should serve both as a celebration of the remarkable achievements of women in agriculture and, most importantly, a reminder of the inequalities that still exist and the ongoing efforts toward gender equality. At Wikifarmer, we believe that the agri-food trade should lead the way for sustainable development and gender equality towards an inclusive market-led sector transformation by removing gender barriers to domestic and international trade.