By Nicole Rindisbacher – Contributor

At first glance, these subjects may seem far removed, but with both International Women’s Day and Agricultural Day coming up, we are offered a closer look at the connections between the two.

Women make up almost half of the global agricultural workforce and produce between 60-80% of the food grown in developing countries. Despite this large contribution, women own 15% of this agricultural land and occupy only 23% of leadership positions within agriculture. 

Now why does this disparity matter? Case studies have shown that empowering women through secure land ownership and decision-making power lays the groundwork for sustainable changes. These changes include improved household nutrition, increased crop diversity, and more social and environmental contributions within agricultural systems. 

A great example is the women’s agricultural groups in Mali, which strengthened the market access for smallholder farms by raising awareness of the benefits of local foods. One step further is the female farmers in Rwanda, who have created seed banks and switched to agroecological practices proven to save water, prevent soil erosion and increase climate resilience. 

With climate change causing unstable rainfall patterns and temperature spikes, saving seeds from resilient and locally adapted crops is crucial. This is often traditional women’s knowledge that is passed down through generations. 

Just as sustainable agriculture benefits from women, the inverse is also true. Sustainable farming systems prefer natural techniques over expensive (and harmful) chemicals or heavy machinery. This reduces the need for capital which women often already have restricted access to. Agroecology Today finds “strong correlations” with “the use of agrochemical inputs and gender inequity in the Sahel, where men are the main recipients of state-subsidized chemical fertilizer.” 

To further sustainability, these systems often cultivate local varieties sold to local markets, making farming profitable for those selling smaller quantities or diverse produce. Women also heavily populate this category as they tend to grow primarily for their households and may have less time to venture to farther marketplaces due to the gendered division of domestic labour. 

Another empowering factor of sustainable agriculture–namely the agroecological system–is the informal, horizontal, education system. This makes the necessary knowledge of food more accessible for women who were not permitted to attend school in parts of the globe or may be illiterate.

More than simply connected, gender equality and sustainable agriculture are

interdependent. As Agroecology Today summarizes, “We cannot sustainably improve how we produce and consume food without addressing questions of power and inequality.” 

To learn more about Women and Sustainability, check out the Sustainable Development Office’s kiosk in the sub on March 12th and Agricultural Day coming at the end of March!