International Year of the Woman Farmer
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!
Upcoming Events
December 11-12, 2026 - Grand Finale Conference
Join us for the annual Pearls of Production Conference, designed to provide practical knowledge, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities for livestock producers.
Keynote by Dr. Temple Brandin
December 11, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and an internationally recognized advocate for humane livestock handling and autism awareness. Diagnosed with severe autism as a young child, she credits supportive teachers, mentors, and her mother’s encouragement of her artistic interests with helping shape her path as a scientist. Grandin has designed livestock facilities handling more than half the cattle in the United States and is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Animals in Translation, Thinking in Pictures, and The Autistic Brain. Her life and work have been featured in the HBO film Temple Grandin.
Back this year is the Future Pearls of Production Conference, a special program for children ages 5–12. Child registration is available only for children of adults participating in Pearls of Production. This addition makes it easier for parents to attend while their kids enjoy engaging agricultural activities.
Wed, Oct. 28, 2026- Lidia Arend
Lidia Arend (Brazil), a swine reproduction specialist with Topigs Norsvin, is recognized for her work advancing sow fertility, reproductive management, and herd productivity. Through research and industry collaboration, she helps producers implement strategies that improve reproductive efficiency and overall performance while supporting the continued advancement of women in animal agriculture worldwide.
Past Events
Wed, Sep. 23, 2026- Neogen Panel
Pearls of Production continues its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with a panel of outstanding women from Neogen who are helping shape the future of animal agriculture through innovation, science, and leadership. During this interactive conversation, you'll hear about their career journeys, the challenges and opportunities they have encountered along the way, and the important work they do to support producers and the livestock industry.
Laiza Lung
Laiza is an animal scientist from Brazil with a doctorate in animal breeding and genetics. Inspired by her grandfather’s love of animal production, she has worked in genetics since 2018 and is currently a data analyst with Neogen Brazil, transitioning to its Genetic Prediction Group in the U.S.
Alena de Acetis
Alena is a Key Account Manager with Neogen Genomics, supporting livestock genetics customers across Canada and the United States. She holds degrees in Biology and Business from Queen’s University and works with producers, breed associations, universities, and research organizations. Based in rural Alberta, she is actively involved in cow-calf and grain farming.
Kelsey Luebbe
A Montana native, Kelsey Luebbe is a Technical Services Scientist with Neogen, helping cattle producers apply genomic tools to practical decisions. She holds a PhD in Animal Science and an MS in quantitative genetics. Kelsey and her husband custom-feed cattle in southeast Iowa, connecting research with real-world ranch decisions.
Sharon Watkinson
Based in the UK, Sharon grew up on her family farm, working with a suckler herd and hillside sheep flock. With a BSc in Biomedical Science and a career in genomics, she is now a Senior Field Sales Specialist with Neogen, supporting cattle and sheep producers across EMEA. She also chairs her local moorland grazing association.
Wed, Aug. 26, 2026- Cecilia Rabell
Pearls of Production continues its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Cecilia Rabell. Cecilia Rabell shares her story starting with her Mexican roots. Hear her valuable insights on innovation, animal genetics, and the future of livestock production, highlighting emerging trends and opportunities within the global livestock industry.
Wednesday, July 22 - Melanie Ramser (Switzerland)
Pearls of Production continues its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Melanie Ramser. Melanie is from Switzerland where she is an organic farmer and co-manager of Horbermatt Farm. She is recognized for her commitment to sustainable agriculture, preservation of regional food traditions, and transparent, hands-on farming practices. Her operation creates a diverse range of farm products and interactive public experiences. Watch to see how she connects consumers with agriculture while highlighting the role of women in farming and food systems.
Learn more about Melanie Ramser
Wednesday, June 24 - Dr. Louise Bulmer (Scotland)
Join us as we continue the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Dr. Louise Bulmer. Dr. Bulmer is a Senior Lecturer in Animal & Veterinary Sciences at Scotland’s Rural College. There she specializes in equine nutrition and the gut-brain axis. Watch now to learn how diet affects microbiota and behavior.
Wednesday, May 27 - Judith de Vor (Netherlands)
Pearls of Production is back with another celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This time our keynote speaker is Judith De Vor, a 5th-generation Netherlands dairy farmer and steward of a regenerative, sustainability-focused farm that also hosts visitors through its educational programs and farm shop. Hear her story of growing up as a city girl and taking the leap to farming her way.
Learn more about Judith de Vor
Wednesday, April 22 - Kate Hoare (United Kingdom)
Pearls of Production continues its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Kate Hoare. Kate an award-winning dairy farmer from southeast Cornwall who has pioneered a highly sustainable, off-grid system at Trenance Farm using biomethane capture. You are sure to enjoy her witty comments and easy going nature as she talks through what it’s like day to day.
Wednesday, March 25 - Dr. Salma Sultana (Bangladesh)
Pearls of Production continues its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Dr. Salma Sultana. Dr. Sultana is a globally recognized Bangladeshi veterinarian whose innovative training and outreach programs supported thousands of small-scale farmers. Hear her compelling story of resilience, leadership, and service through her career working with women producers.
Sunday, February 22 - Carey Portell, Kickoff Keynote (U.S.A.)
Pearls of Production kicks off its celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer with keynote speaker Carey Portell. Carey is a nationally recognized speaker and best-selling author. Listen to her powerful story of resilience through her twelve-year recovery as a survivor of a drunk driving accident. She will challenge you to break through limitations and embrace possibility.
Learn more about Carey Portell
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