2026 Declared year of the woman farmer

Jul 04, 2024

UN recognizes women's role in global food security

By Farms.com

The United Nations (UN) is recognizing the critical role women play in feeding the world by declaring 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This initiative sheds light on the immense contributions of women to global food security, while also acknowledging the obstacles they encounter.

Women are responsible for nearly half of the world's food production. Despite this, they often face social and economic barriers that hinder their success in agriculture. The International Year of the Woman Farmer aims to raise awareness of these challenges and promote solutions.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) played a leading role in advocating for this UN designation.

USDA Undersecretary Alexis Taylor emphasizes the importance of women in agriculture, stating that the agency is proud to have spearheaded this initiative. The resolution was co-sponsored by 123 nations and passed by the UN General Assembly in May 2024.

This marks a historic moment, as it's the first time the US has led the designation of an international year at the UN. It underscores the vital role women play in ensuring food security for all.

The coming years will see efforts to empower women farmers, address the challenges they face, and ultimately create a more equitable and productive agricultural sector.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.