The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. For us at Vion, this is an opportunity to recognise the value and celebrate the achievements of thousands of women working in agrifood sector.
Farms are family businesses, long-term commitments and often deeply personal life projects. Anyone who has grown up close to agriculture knows that women have always played a decisive role. Sometimes they are the official farm owners, they share responsibility or they work in the background. In all cases, they contribute directly to the continuity of farming.
International data from organisations such as FAO, OECD, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, shows that women farmers often face different structural conditions when it comes to land ownership, access to finance, succession rights, professional networks and visibility.
If we fail to create conditions in which women can take over farms, co-lead them, build viable careers within agriculture and combine it with their family responsibilities, we weaken the stability of our food systems at a time when resilience is more important than ever.
To mark this year, we will launch a series highlighting female farmers from our network. We want to make their work more visible, acknowledge their contribution and share their perspectives on the future of agriculture.
We look forward to telling their stories in the coming months.