UN to Declare 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer

The United Nations General Assembly is declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. USDA, which spearheaded the declaration effort, says the worldwide observance will call attention to the vital role that women play in global food and agricultural production and will raise global awareness of the unique challenges women in agriculture face, catalyze action to help address those challenges, and support many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those focused on gender equity, food security, and poverty. By shining a spotlight on women’s role in farming across the world, the International Year of the Woman Farmer will raise awareness of constraints women face in areas including property rights and land tenure, access to credit and markets, and lack of technical and educational support. It will emphasize, as well, the importance of women in leadership roles to better ensure representation at the highest levels of decision-making.