UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Acknowledging women’s vital contributions to food production and stewardship, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is joining the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in marking 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
In the U.S., a coalition of more than 30 organizations is organizing events to commemorate the celebration. A nationwide study, led by the American Farm Bureau, seeks to understand better the women behind American agriculture, who comprise 36% of the nation’s agricultural producers.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture launched an information hub to “highlight the achievements and challenges of women farmers while building resources that can inspire meaningful change,” according to Amanda Beal, the association’s president.
“From local fields to global supply chains, women are driving nearly half of the world’s agricultural labor, and more than a million U.S. farms rely on female producers,” said Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of international programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Given the expertise within the college and our history of conducting research and extension activities related to women in agriculture, we are especially poised to take up the call to bring attention to women’s roles in creating a more resilient, sustainable and accessible food system, both at home and abroad.”
The Penn State group plans to share information about women’s contributions to Pennsylvania agriculture by participating in key events throughout the year, including the Pasa Sustainable Agriculture conference this month, the college’s Ag Progress Days in August, and various roundtables and Penn State Extension workshops.
The group also will present at the "International Year of the Woman Farmer: Advocate, Cultivate, Empower Summit" in Washington, D.C., in June, hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Additionally, Georgia Few, a plant sciences major with an agroecology concentration who is pursuing an international agriculture minor, created a website about International Year of the Woman Farmer programming, showcasing women farmers in Pennsylvania and their contributions to their communities and local to global food systems through six key themes: farm labor, leadership roles, community engagement, women’s networks, statistical context and historical relevance.
Fellow farmers, consumers, educators and policymakers are encouraged to visit the site and engage with the featured stories, data and perspectives to foster recognition and long-lasting change in agricultural communities.
“By highlighting the contributions of women farmers, these events help broaden public understanding of the essential role they play in feeding communities and sustaining our planet,” Behring said. “We believe that increased awareness leads to stronger support for the women whose knowledge, labor and leadership are vital to agriculture worldwide.”
The college brings decades of experience in developing and delivering training programs, including WINAg: Women Driving Growth and Productivity in Agriculture.
This program helps participants deepen their understanding of women’s roles in agriculture and apply that knowledge to drive growth and productivity in agricultural programs and policies. WINAg is open to growers and producers worldwide.
For more information, visit the International Year of the Women Farmer at Penn State website at https://sites.psu.edu/womenagriculturenetwork2025/social-portrayal/ or contact Behring at dbehring@psu.edu.