Empowering Women in Agriculture: Forging Gender Equality in the Primary Sector

International Women’s Day (IWD) is more than just a celebration—it is a global movement advocating for gender equality, inclusivity, and empowerment. Each year, IWD reminds us that a gender-equal world is possible, one free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. In 2025, under the theme #AccelerateAction, we are called to take meaningful steps toward fostering inclusivity and diversity across all sectors, including agriculture.

The Role of Women in Agriculture

Women have always played a crucial role in agriculture, yet their contributions have often been overlooked. As farmers, scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, women shape the agricultural landscape, driving innovation and sustainability. However, gender disparities persist—limited access to land, financial resources, education, and technology continues to hinder women’s full participation in the sector. Addressing these inequalities is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity to ensure a resilient and sustainable food system.

How QuantiFarm Supports Women in Agriculture

QuantiFarm is committed to empowering women and promoting gender equality in the agricultural sector and beyond. Recognising the importance of gender inclusivity, QuantiFarm actively supports women’s participation in the agricultural sector by:

• Enhancing digital literacy – Providing training and resources to help women farmers leverage smart farming technologies.
• Promoting equitable access – Ensuring women have equal opportunities to benefit from agricultural innovations.
• Encouraging female leadership – Showcasing and supporting women in decision-making roles within agriculture.
• Supporting female scientists and researchers – Advancing cutting-edge solutions for the farming sector.

In addition to promoting and supporting women’s involvement in the sector, the QuantiFarm team, consisting of 32 partners across Europe, brings together women from various fields of expertise—from farmers to researchers—who contribute decisively to the project’s success. Their dedication not only advances the QuantiFarm initiative but also drives the broader progress of the agricultural sector. We couldn’t be prouder to be taking real action toward gender equality.

Why Women’s Involvement is Crucial

Women bring unique perspectives, skills, and resilience to agriculture. Their involvement leads to increased food security, improved livelihoods, and stronger rural economies. Studies show that closing the gender gap in agriculture could boost productivity and reduce hunger worldwide. By investing in women’s empowerment, we are investing in a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

As Caroline van der Weerdt, Senior Consultant on Consumer Behaviour at our partner TNO, which is responsible for Behaviour Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement, pointed out during a recent farm visit in the framework of QuantiFarm, “We have also found out that it’s not necessarily only one person on the farm making these decisions, but it is the dynamic of the couple deciding as to whether they will adopt digital technologies in their farming practices or not.” This underscores the importance of women’s active presence in decision-making processes, especially as we move toward more modern, digitally-driven farming practices. Women’s involvement is not just a catalyst for greater gender equality—it is essential to advancing the sector as a whole.

Join Us in Celebrating International Women’s Day

IWD belongs to everyone who believes in gender equality. This year, let’s celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of ongoing challenges, and take action to create a more inclusive agricultural sector. Together, through projects like QuantiFarm, we can forge a path toward true gender parity in the primary sector.

Join the conversation and take action this #IWD2025 to #AccelerateAction towards a fairer, more inclusive agricultural world.