The International Year of the Woman Farmer celebrates the vital role women play in agriculture, from managing livestock and stewarding land to driving innovation in food production and rural development. This year-long celebration honors their leadership, resilience, and contributions by highlighting their stories and creating spaces for connection across the global agricultural community. These sessions will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and highlighting diverse perspectives within agriculture.
How Pearls of Production is celebrating
Uniting voices from fields around the world
- FREE monthly Zoom sessions featuring international speakers from across the agricultural world
- Each session offers fresh insights, new voices, and exciting perspectives
- Additional speakers added throughout 2026
- Register for each session individually
- Take advantage of Zoom’s built‑in translation tools to participate in the language that works best for you
Don’t miss this global celebration of women shaping the future of agriculture!
Sunday, February 22 - Carey Portell, Kickoff Keynote (U.S.A.)
A Missouri cattle farmer and nationally recognized speaker, sharing her story of surviving a devastating drunk-driver crash and rebuilding her life through resilience and adaptation.
Learn more about Carey Portell
Register for Carey Portell's talk
Wednesday, March 25 - Dr. Salma Sultana (Bangladesh)
A Bangladeshi veterinarian recognized for creating innovative veterinary training and outreach programs that support thousands of small-scale farmers.
Wednesday, April 22 - Kate Hoare (United Kingdom)
An award-winning dairy farmer from Southeast Cornwall who runs Trenance Farm and has pioneered a highly sustainable, off-grid model using a biomethane-capturing slurry lagoon.
Wednesday, May 27 - Judith de Vor (Netherlands)
A 5th-generation dairy farmer and steward of a regenerative, sustainability-focused farm that also hosts visitors each year through its educational programs and farm shop.
Learn more about Judith de Vor
Wednesday, June 24 - Dr. Louise Bulmer (Scotland)
A Senior Lecturer in Animal & Veterinary Sciences at Scotland’s Rural College specializing in equine nutrition, behavior, and the gut-brain axis, specifically how diet affects equine microbiota and behavior.
Wednesday, July 22 - Melanie Ramser (Switzerland)
An organic farmer who manages Horbermatt Farm and is known for sustainable agriculture, authentic regional food traditions, and hands-on farm life showcased through the farm’s diverse products and public activities.
Learn more about Melanie Ramser
Why it matters
Women are essential to farm operations, rural economies, and agricultural innovation. This series amplifies their voices, experiences, and accomplishments while inspiring the next generation of producers.
- Globally, women represent ~40% of the agricultural workforce
- Women wage workers in agri-food systems earn approximately 82 cents for every $1 earned by men (roughly 18% less)
- On farms of equal size, women farmers face a ~24% productivity gap compared with men, largely linked to unequal access to resources and services
- If women had the same access to productive resources as men, their farm yields could rise by 20-30%, potentially increasing total agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5-4%
- FAO reports that closing gaps in farm productivity and agricultural wage employment could increase global GDP by nearly $1 trillion and reduce the number of food-insecure people by ~45 million