Regional Launch of The International Year of The Woman Farmer

Context

In Latin America and the Caribbean, women are key actors in agrifood systems and actively participate in diverse value chains, being present in production, processing, distribution, and marketing of food. In the region’s agrifood systems, women represent 36% of the labor force, with their participation particularly significant in non-agricultural segments: in 2019, 71% of women working in these systems were employed outside of agriculture, mainly in processing, marketing, and sales activities (FAO, 2025).

Despite this contribution, rural women, in their ethnic-racial, age, and territorial diversity, continue to face profound structural inequalities. In our region, rural women face reduced access to land tenure, financial services, technologies, markets, and decent employment, as well as an excessive burden of unpaid domestic and care work. These inequalities limit their economic autonomy, reduce their productivity, and affect the well-being of their households and communities, while simultaneously compromising the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems.

In recognition of this scenario, the United Nations General Assembly, through resolution A/RES/78/279, designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, with the purpose of raising awareness on the contribution of all women working in agrifood systems, promoting transformative public policies, and mobilizing partnerships and investments to close the structural gaps they face.

Within this framework, FAO’s Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39) constitutes a strategic space for the regional launch of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. It contributes to incorporating this initiative into the conference debates, FAO’s regional priorities, and agreements to be developed between Member States and FAO.

This launch, which will also commemorate International Women’s Day, represents an opportunity to highlight the work of rural women and promote actions aimed at their empowerment and the reduction of inequalities that affect them throughout the agrifood systems in the region.

Objective

To carry out the regional launch of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, within the framework of the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39), highlighting the strategic role of rural women in the agrifood systems of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Target audience

• Official delegations and high authorities of Member States present at the Regional Conference.
• Ministers from the Government of Brazil, the host country.
• International organizations and United Nations system agencies.
• International cooperation.
• Media representatives.
• Civil society organizations.

The event will have simultaneous interpretation into Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French.