2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the United Nations (UN).

This year will spotlight the essential roles women play across agri-food systems, from production to trade, while often going unrecognised.

The global campaign will also raise awareness and promote actions to close the gender gaps and improve women’s livelihoods worldwide.

Key issues women face in agri-food systems include land tenure, financial and technical constraints, and limited access to services and education.

Activities this year will seek to encourage policies and investments that empower women in agri-food and to promote greater synergies among international initiatives supporting women farmers.  

Essential role

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland's co-sponsorship of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 "reflects our national commitment to advancing gender equality across the agri-food sector".

"Gender equality is a core element of our domestic policy framework, including Food Vision 2030, and is central to our wider development cooperation priorities," DAFM said.

"Irish women farmers and agri-entrepreneurs will be central to our plans to celebrate throughout the year.

"Throughout 2026, the department will amplify the contribution of its female farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to a productive, sustainable, and viable Irish agri-food sector through targeted policy and recognition."

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) launched the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 in early December.

The launch event was co-organised by Ireland and Jordan, represented respectively by Maria Dunne, assistant secretary-general at DAFM and FAO regional goodwill ambassador for the Near East and North Africa Princess Basma bint Ali.

Women in agriculture in Ireland

In Ireland, the Central Statistics Office's Farm Structure Survey 2023 showed women accounted for just over 13% of the 133,174 farm holders in Ireland and 34% of the 299,725 total farm workers.

In the second half of 2026, Ireland will hold the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which means Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon - if he is still minister at that time - will chair the meetings of the EU's agriculture ministers.

Minister Heydon has said he "absolutely wants" to incorporate the issue of women in agriculture into Ireland's presidency of the council.

A National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture took place in 2023, exploring gender equality in farming and the wider agri-food sector.

The outcomes and recommendations informed a report and 12-point action plan, which was launched in 2024.

"A Women in Agriculture Working Group was established to oversee its implementation and good progress has been made with several actions either complete or nearing completion," according to Minister Heydon.

The group recently delivered a winter webinar series aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of topics, including DAFM schemes, access to finance, agri-taxation, and succession planning and social protection.

Review of schemes

According to the minister, a review of DAFM schemes has been undertaken to "ensure that the language, terms and conditions and eligibility criteria do not pose any unintended barriers to female farmer participation". 

"The review, completed over a six-month period, has informed a guidance note and checklist to assist in the design of future scheme documentation to ensure best practice going forward," Minister Heydon said.

"A review of the department’s herd number application process has also been undertaken and updated guidance documents, application forms and standard operating procedures have been implemented to ensure greater consistency and ease of use.

"The process is due to become available online in 2026."

Education

DAFM revealed this year that the number of women completing Teagasc Education programmes rose by nearly 10% between 2020 and 2024.

"Female participation numbers and trends in Teagasc Education programmes have been steadily increasing," Minister Heydon said.

"Figures for the past five years show female participation growing from 856 participants in 2020 to 1,331 participants this year.

"Females comprised 28% of overall course completions in 2024 compared to 17% in 2020."