The other side of Year of the Woman Farmer
Let’s start off the New Year right by recognizing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ declaration that 2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Such declarations are a time of celebration. FAO says women have a central role in household food security and nutrition. In 2021, agri- food systems employed 40 per cent of working women globally, nearly equal to men.
Globally, says the FAO, women farmers work in diverse roles across agri-food systems and come from all backgrounds: young and older women, Indigenous women, women in local communities, women with disabilities and refugee and displaced women.
It further describes them as smallholder producers, peasants, agricultural labourers, fishers and fish workers, beekeepers, pastoralists, processors, traders, women in agricultural sciences, rural entrepreneurs, traditional knowledge holders, and more – whether in formal or informal work, with or without land ownership.
For its part, Canada has nearly 80,000 female farm operators, a figure which represents 30 per cent of all Canadian farmers.
“Women in agriculture today are highly educated and driven, with strong business acumen,” according to a report on women in agriculture from Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the country’s biggest agricultural lender.
“They are well equipped to foster innovation and accelerate new methods, tools, and technologies on the farm,” it says. “At a time when productivity growth in Canadian agriculture is stagnating, leveraging their skills and entrepreneurial spirit will reap significant economic benefits.”
The number of women farm operators in Canada has grown by about 2,000 in the past decade. That sounds like an upbeat trend.
But not so, says FCC. It claims the trend is largely explained by men leaving the sector, not by more women joining. Farm consolidations and an aging farm population have reduced the total number of farm operators across Canada over time, with the number of men falling faster than the number of women. So, while the proportion of women farmers has been steadily on the rise, the actual number of women in farming has not been growing by much, it says.
The FAO describes women’s contributions as undervalued. It says their working conditions are often more precarious – irregular, informal, part-time, low- paid, labour-intensive and highly vulnerable. Women farmers face systemic barriers, including limited access to land, finance, technologies, education, extension services and participation in decision-making at all levels, says the FAO.
Helping right this ship would have a significant return. It’s estimated that closing the gaps between men and women in agriculture could raise global GDP by a whopping $1 trillion and reduce food insecurity for 45 million people.
In Canada, FCC says embracing the strengths and potential of women in agriculture can unlock $5 billion in economic benefits for the agriculture sector.
Leadership training is a great place to start. In December, Grain Farmers of Ontario hosted a Women’s Grain Symposium in Guelph that drew 130 people. It was marketed as an opportunity for networking, professional development and leadership development, an effort that reflected FAO’s emphasis for 2026.
“Throughout 2026, the International Year will move to practical work — national policies, community partnerships, research, investment and dialogue between farmers, cooperatives, governments, finance institutions, youth networks and universities,” says FAO. “The goal is simple: turn commitment into practice, and practice into measurable impact.”
Owen Roberts is an agricultural journalist from Guelph. He regularly visits family in Creemore.
