Key Takeaways:
- The 14th annual Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit hosted 700 attendees, 60+ speakers, and 20+ sessions in Orlando, Florida.
- Participants represented 39 U.S. states, D.C., and 8 countries, including Brazil, Mexico, the UK, and The Netherlands.
- Key topics included U.S. agriculture market challenges, trade policy, supply chain management, and diversification strategies.
- Awards were presented, student scholarships celebrated, and networking opportunities spanned 25+ hours.
- The event highlighted both the pressures facing U.S. farmers and pathways to resilience through innovation and leadership.
Women in Agribusiness: A Gathering of Industry Leaders
The Women in Agribusiness Summit 2025 brought together more than 700 women across the agricultural value chain, from CEOs to early-career professionals. Held in Orlando, Florida, the three-day event featured more than 60 speakers, 20 sessions, and extensive networking.
Participants discussed how U.S. agriculture is at a crossroads, with record corn acreage harvested in 2025 but falling crop prices, rising input costs, and uncertainty in trade. USDA projects net farm income for 2025 at $179.8 billion, up from 2024 but largely driven by government payments, compared to a peak of $181.9 billion in 2022.
Market Trends and Trade Concerns
Keynote speakers included Karen Braun, chief market analyst for Zaner Ag Hedge, and Emily French, CEO of Global Ag Protein, who addressed grain oversupply and the lack of new soybean export orders from China. Farmers are urging U.S. trade officials to secure agreements to stabilize markets.
Trade and market access were further examined in a panel featuring Sara Wyant (Agri-Pulse), Sérgio Bortolozzo (Brazilian Rural Society), Alejandra Castillo (NAEGA), Virginia Houston (American Soybean Association), and Gretchen Kuck (National Corn Growers Association).
Insights from Industry Voices During Women In Agribusiness
The event drew positive feedback from attendees.
- Seleise Barrett of Kansas State University called Xiannan Li’s RaboResearch presentation on consumer trends “the best presentation on this topic that I’ve seen.”
- Cara Kalercara of Simplot praised Emily French’s keynote, noting it was “engaging and representing diversity in WIA.”
- Jennifer Williams of Smithfield valued a breakout session with FTI Consulting as “a true amazing takeaway.”
- LaTonya Keaton of CoBank said Jacqueline Langlois’s session on leadership “covered the what, why it matters, and how to use the information to grow.”
Maria McWhorter, Kynetec, added: “It is tough to diversify in some markets [like in corn and cattle]… but definitely feeling like farmers are more open-minded on how the long-term viability of their farm will look.” She noted that high input costs are pressuring margins, but partnerships and innovations like biostimulants could offer solutions.
Celebrations and Recognition
The Summit also highlighted achievements and future talent:
- A leadership workshop engaged participants in practical skills training.
- 22 students were awarded WIA scholarships.
- The 2025 WIA Demeter Award of Excellence honored Sara Neagu-Reed (International Fresh Produce Association), Frances Churchill (Kansas State University), and Leah Anderson (Winfield United/Land O’Lakes).
Networking events, including an off-site reception, created space for connections across the diverse global delegation.
