Investing in Women is the key to resilient food systems

Women play a central role in food systems, contributing to agricultural labor, production, household nutrition, and the wider economy. However, the barriers they face – shaped by deep-rooted social and cultural norms – continue to limit their potential and hinder progress in agriculture.

At CGIAR, we understand that gender equality isn’t just a matter of fairness, but rather essential for achieving resilient and sustainable food systems and nutritious diets for everyone in the planet. The UN estimates that closing the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agri-food-system employment could increase global GDP by nearly USD 1 trillion.

The role of Women and Girls in food systems

Women and girls are indispensable to food systems. In many regions, they are not just the backbone of the agricultural workforce but also play a pivotal role in securing household food security. Whether they are farming, processing, distributing, or trading food, women contribute significantly to ensuring that families and communities are nourished. They are key players in the global efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.

In fact, agriculture often represents a more critical source of livelihood for women than for men, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where it is both a source of income and survival. For instance, in sub-Saharan Africa, 66% of women’s employment is in agri-food systems, compared to 60% of men’s, while in Southern Asia, 71% of women workers are engaged in agri-food systems, compared to 47% of men workers.

While women produce more than two thirds of the food in most developing countries and are responsible for half of the world’s food production, less than 15% of agricultural landholders globally are women. Women also continue to be more food insecure than men, and those numbers are on the rise, with gender gaps in food insecurity growing from 1.7% in 2019 to more than 4% in 2021.

Challenges and barriers faced by Women and Girls

Despite their critical role in feeding the world along with men, women and girls still face significant barriers in accessing the resources needed to succeed. Gender inequalities are deeply entrenched in food systems, where social norms often limit women’s access to land, financial services, training, and technology. These inequalities can stifle women’s economic opportunities and their representation in decision-making, thereby stalling economic growth as a whole.

Gender inequality in agriculture not only hinders the potential of women but also stifles economic growth, reduces food security, and weakens the resilience of entire communities – and is being made worse by climate change, which disproportionately affects women, as they depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources. Under a worst-case climate scenario, up to 158 million more women and girls could be pushed into extreme poverty by 2050, nearly half of which in sub-Saharan Africa.

And change has come too slowly. While we have made significant strides in addressing gender disparities in some regions, much remains to be done. And as the tides of a shifting climate grow upon us, the call becomes more urgent.

Data-driven strategies and solutions to bridge the gender gap in agriculture

Collecting sex-disaggregated data is also essential for truly transformative policy decisions. Without robust data and analysis, we cannot effectively track progress or inform policies that empower women and achieve global development goals.

By the same token, we are also invested in developing gender-responsive solutions for food systems, as evidence shows that, in regions with unequal social norms, even the best agricultural technologies often fail to reach their full potential because they are not tailored to the differences in roles, responsibilities and education between men and women.

To ensure that women gain the skills to use these innovations effectively, CGIAR pairs the introduction of new technologies on the ground with a better understanding of enabling environment she needs to make the technology work for her.

Accelerating Gender progress

As part of CGIAR’s Research Portfolio for 2025-2030, officially launching in April at CGIAR Science Week, we are unveiling a Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator that is meant to drive, in the shortest time possible, equitable gender outcomes and more resilient outcomes for all.

By aiming at gender-equal outcomes across every area of our work, we will be developing solutions that not only increase agricultural productivity but also empower women to take control of their lives and livelihoods. We are not just aiming for incremental change – we want to produce truly transformative research that catalyzes a shift benefitting everyone.

What is more, this Accelerator will continue to build its resource on Gender Equality, Youth, and Social Inclusion; a platform where anyone – from CGIAR or beyond – can find evidence, methods, metrics, and innovations on these issues, so that we can move the discussion to the next level. We’re also focused on building strategic partnerships and networks that will strengthen our impact at the global level.

The transformative impact of empowering Women and Girls in agriculture

The impact of empowering women and girls in agriculture is profound. Research shows that if women had the same access to productive resources as men, farm productivity could increase significantly, improving food security and reducing poverty. For example, CGIAR’s studies in Ethiopia show that if female-headed households had the same access to resources as male-headed ones, their maize productivity would increase by more than 40%.

When women participate in decision-making, agricultural practices become more sustainable, productive, and inclusive. In CGIAR’s climate-smart villages in India, for instance, including women in decision-making improved agricultural practices, benefitting both men and women.

Empowering women in agriculture has a cascading effect. When women have economic power, they reinvest it in their families, improving child nutrition, education, and health. This multiplier effect underscores the importance of investing in women to achieve broader societal goals, from economic growth to sustainable development.

Uniting to Empower Women in Agriculture

At CGIAR, we know that advancing gender equality and enhancing food outcomes are inseparable. Gender-responsive innovations, capacity-building, and evidence-based policymaking are the most effective ways to empower women, build a resilient global agriculture, and ensure food security for all.

We call on partners to join us in this urgent effort: investing in a shared future where equitable access to resources fuels global progress.

Blog by Filipa Canas, CGIAR Speechwriter & Senior Communications Advisor, with support from CGIAR gender lead Nicoline de Haan