Leaders, experts call for more gender equality in agriculture

As women produce more than half of the world's food, global leaders and experts are calling for stronger scientific innovation and more inclusive technology to close the persistent gender gap in agriculture.

They shared their insights at the 2025 Forum on Women in Agrifood, held on Tuesday in Beijing's Pinggu district as part of the World AgriFood Innovation Conference.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, women in developing countries produce 60 to 80 percent of food, yet their land productivity was 24 percent lower than men's in 2023, largely due to unequal access to technology, finance and training. Agricultural science and digital innovation are key to narrowing that divide, experts said.

"Women have become a vital force in agricultural innovation," said Feng Ling, vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation. She said China has taken steps to promote gender equality in agriculture through training, inclusive finance and entrepreneurship programs.

Specialized initiatives in e-commerce, tourism and rural management have supported small businesses led by women. As of 2025, more than 8 million rural women had received training, and over 290,000 cooperatives and family farms led by women had been established, Feng said.

China has also rolled out inclusive financial products such as the women's entrepreneurship loan. Between 2020 and 2023, women's federations helped secure more than 240 billion yuan ($33 billion) in loans, helping nearly 10 million obtain rural employment or start businesses, she said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, more than half the participants in the country's new agricultural enterprises are women, and they account for over 35 percent of cooperative and family farm leaders.

Sun Qixin, president of China Agricultural University, said women have become an indispensable force in building a strong agricultural nation and advancing rural vitalization.

"Chinese women are emerging as innovators in green agriculture and sustainable technology," Sun said. He noted that female entrepreneurs have invested in 445,000 green economy enterprises, covering sectors from organic farming to clean agriculture.

Women now make up 45.8 percent of the country's scientific workforce, contributing to major technological breakthroughs in agricultural technology and sustainability, he added.

However, challenges remain, as women in developing countries are still excluded from critical resources such as credit and technology.

Agnes Kalibata, president emeritus of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, said women produce most of Africa's food but often lack access to fair markets, technology and finance.

Citing World Bank data, she said if women were paid according to their contribution, Africa's agricultural GDP could increase by up to 4 percent, which would have "a massive and transformative impact".

Kalibata cited examples of innovations made by women, including Tanzanian entrepreneurs who provide digital advisory services to thousands of farmers and manufacture drones to monitor crops.

"When women have access to technology, knowledge and finance, they can deliver miracles," she said.

Echoing Kalibata, Helen Nalungwe, an official with Zambia's Ministry of Agriculture, said international organizations are helping female entrepreneurs in rural areas build resilience to climate change.

Programs run by the UN Development Programme and the World Food Programme — such as rural savings groups that allow women to collectively purchase agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers — have helped increase productivity, Nalungwe said.