From contribution to recognition - What the International Year of the Woman Farmer means for food and farming

A number of the Women in Food and Farming network representatives had the pleasure of representing the network at a special reception hosted by Dr Amy Little, Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor to the United Kingdom, at the Australian High Commission in London.

The event marked the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s International Year of the Woman Farmer and brought together leaders from across agriculture, food production, trade, academia and government to discuss the role of women in shaping the future of our food systems.

The evening began with a keynote address from Dame Angela Eagle MP, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, who reflected on the historic contribution of women to agriculture and the challenges that remain today.

Drawing on the legacy of the Women’s Land Army, Dame Angela reminded us that more than 200,000 women stepped into farming roles during wartime, undertaking many of the same responsibilities as men, often for lower pay and with less recognition. While significant progress has been made since then, she noted that the gap between contribution and recognition has not entirely disappeared.

Today, women make up more than half of the family farming workforce in the UK, yet only around one in six farm holders and farm managers are women. As Dame Angela emphasised, addressing this is not simply about equality; it is about strengthening productivity, resilience and food security at a time when agriculture faces increasing pressure from climate change, global instability and changing consumer expectations.

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr Amy Little, featuring Emily Norton (Chair of AHDB), Margaret Boanas (Chair of the International Meat Traders Association) and Amy Hayes, dairy farmer, NFU Dairy Board member and agricultural communicator.

Several themes emerged throughout the discussion.

Leadership is about bringing others with you

Margaret Boanas reflected on the leadership of Baroness Minette Batters, highlighting a characteristic many in the room recognised:

“She hasn’t just led – she has brought people with her.”

It was a sentiment that resonated throughout the evening as being a common trait among women in the sector. Effective leadership in food and farming is increasingly being recognised not simply as directing others, but as creating opportunities, building confidence and helping others succeed.

Different perspectives strengthen the sector

The panel explored the value that diversity of thought brings to agriculture. Amy Hayes shared practical examples from dairy farming, while Emily Norton spoke about the importance of broadening participation and ensuring agriculture remains open to different backgrounds, experiences and ways of thinking.

One particularly powerful theme was that improvements designed to support women often benefit everyone. Discussions around flexible working, workplace design, childcare, technology and accessibility highlighted opportunities to create farming businesses that work better for all employees, regardless of gender.

Technology can help remove barriers

A thought-provoking contribution from Professor Michael Lee of Harper Adams University suggested that emerging technologies could help shift the conversation further:

“Using AI to make farming not gender-neutral, but gender-irrelevant.”

While technology alone will not solve cultural challenges, innovations that reduce physical barriers and create more flexible ways of working could play an important role in opening opportunities to a wider range of people.

Looking ahead

Perhaps the strongest message from the evening was one of optimism.

Agriculture and the wider food system are changing. More women are entering the sector, more are taking on leadership positions and more conversations are taking place about how workplaces, policies and industry culture can evolve to attract and retain the best talent.

Yet there was also recognition that progress is not inevitable. It requires continued advocacy, visibility, mentorship and a willingness to challenge long-standing assumptions about who belongs in agriculture and how the sector operates.

Amy and Emily were able to highlight some of the more practical ways this shows up in the on-farm environment - adapting working environments for women (reducing heavy lifting and manual operations for example) benefits men as well. Margaret followed with her own examples in supply chain butchery - how robotics had reduced the handling of carcasses and adaptive platforms allowed those with smaller stature better access to the job in hand.

For the Women in Food & Farming Network, events such as this are a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where women can connect, share experiences and support one another. The future of food and farming will depend on drawing on the widest possible pool of talent, and ensuring that contribution and recognition finally go hand in hand.

Our thanks go to Dr Amy Little, the Australian High Commission, the UN FAO, the speakers and organisers for hosting such an insightful and thought-provoking event.

If you are interested in being put forward to attend these sorts of events, we are always on the look out for network representatives who can champion the network, promote it to other women in the sector and bring attention to the value that women bring to food and farming - please email hello@womeninfoodandfarming.org