At CSW70, WFO Secretary General highlights why women farmers’ representation in global decision-making is crucial for inclusive and sustainable food systems.

On 16 March 2026, the World Farmers’ Organisation participated in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), with Secretary General Andrea Porro delivering a video message at the side event “From the Margins to the Mainstream: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Cooperatives for Access to International High Tables,” organised by WFO member organisation Indian Co-operative Network for Women Limited (ICNW) and its President, Dr Nandini Azad, a leading ambassador for WFO’s advocacy on Cooperatives and Women.

WFO’s central message was clear: women farmers are vital to food production, rural economies, and community resilience, yet they remain underrepresented within policy-making for agriculture and food systems.

Moving women from the margins to the mainstream requires structural change. This includes equal access to land, finance, training, technology, and markets; stronger leadership pathways within farmers’ organisations and cooperatives; and opportunities for women to participate not only in consultations but also in international high-level decision-making forums.

Women-led cooperatives are key to this transformation. They strengthen collective voice, expand financial inclusion, and encourage entrepreneurship, enabling women to influence local economies and global policy processes.

With 2026 designated as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, WFO emphasised that recognising women farmers is not only a matter of equity. It is essential to build resilient and sustainable food systems that can address climate risks, market volatility, and global food security challenges.

Empowering women in agriculture requires sustained investment in leadership, innovation, and institutional representation. These are the foundations for long-term sustainability, economic stability, and social well-being. The WFO Position on Women Farmers reaffirms that strengthening women’s roles in agriculture is essential for inclusive and sustainable development.

Through advocacy and global engagement, WFO remains committed to working with women’s cooperatives and farmers’ organisations worldwide to ensure women’s contributions are fully recognised and their voices are included in decisions shaping the future of agriculture and food systems.

Cover photo: Screenshot from the event “From the Margins to the Mainstream: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Cooperatives for Access to International High Tables″; Image courtesy of the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW)