Empowered Women for sustainable and fairer Agrifood Systems

Scope and Objectives

In the context of the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a thematic debate during the meeting of its Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT) on 28 January 2026 (14:30–15:45 CET), aimed at identifying the drivers for empowering women on the field, focusing on promoting gender equality and addressing the challenges women face in agriculture. 
 

The debate aims to:

• Showcase women farmers’ experiences, contributions, and leadership in the EU.
• Address structural barriers faced by women, including unequal access to land, finance, technology, and training.
• Foster collaboration and dialogue between women farmers, policymakers, UN representatives, youth and civil society to advance gender equality in agriculture.
• Promote policies and investments that empower women to drive food security, nutrition, climate resilience and sustainable rural development.

🎬The event will be web streamed freely on our website. ✅ No registration required. 🔊Interpretation: EN, FR and DE.

Context

Women are the backbone of agrifood systems, contributing labor, knowledge, entrepreneurship and leadership from production to consumption. Women make up 41 % of the global agrifood workforce, 31% of EU farm managers are women, yet structural inequalities continue to limit their access to land, finance, technology and training. These gaps undermine not only women’s rights, but also food security, nutrition, climate resilience and economic prosperity on a global scale.
The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer to raise awareness of the essential yet often unrecognized roles women play across agrifood systems. IYWF 2026 offers therefore a unique opportunity to elevate women’s voices, recognize their contributions and mobilize political will for transformative change.

💬Questions?
✏️Contact us