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Women in Agriculture: Vital Players in Conservation, Biodiversity, and Climate Resilience

estherpeev

Updated: Jan 21


In many parts of the world, women form the backbone of agricultural labor, making essential contributions to both food production and environmental sustainability. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women constitute 43% of the global agricultural workforce and are responsible for producing as much as 80% of food in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (FAO, 2011). Despite their vast contributions, women still face significant barriers, including limited access to land ownership, financial resources, training, and technological support. These disparities reduce their productivity and limit their potential impact on combating climate change and biodiversity loss (UN Women, 2020).


Women’s Key Contributions to Biodiversity and Conservation

Women are uniquely positioned to influence biodiversity conservation due to their knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices. In many communities, women smallholders employ agroecological techniques, such as seed saving, crop rotation, and intercropping, which not only maintain soil fertility but also protect the habitats of essential pollinators. By prioritizing crop diversity, women contribute to both food security and biodiversity resilience, playing a critical role in maintaining the ecosystem balance.

Studies show that women farmers are more likely than men to adopt these agroecological practices, directly contributing to species conservation by fostering resilient farming systems less reliant on monoculture, which is often damaging to biodiversity (World Bank, 2014).


Women and Climate Adaptation in Agriculture

Women in agriculture are also key players in climate adaptation, managing resources efficiently and adjusting their practices to withstand increasingly severe weather conditions. This flexibility has been demonstrated in studies by the FAO, which indicate that female-led farms can achieve up to 20-30% greater climate resilience when given the same resources as male-led farms (FAO, 2018). Yet, the persistent lack of access to credit, tools, and training limits their ability to implement these practices fully, putting climate adaptation efforts at risk.


A Path Forward: Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future

Supporting women farmers is essential in building a sustainable and resilient agricultural system. With equal access to resources, land, and educational opportunities, women farmers could increase agricultural yields by 20-30% globally. This improvement would not only enhance food security but would also further critical goals in biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation (IFPRI, 2018).

The path to a sustainable, climate-resilient world lies in closing the gender gap in agriculture, recognizing and empowering women as central figures in global environmental stewardship.


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