Key Takeaways
- Women in Agribusiness will support the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 at its annual Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans.
- The Summit will take place September 22–24, 2026, at the Hilton Riverside, marking a return to the event’s original host city.
- The United Nations initiative highlights women’s roles across global agrifood systems and seeks to close persistent gender gaps.
- Women in Agribusiness will amplify farmer voices, share data and insights, and align programming with IYWF 2026 objectives.
- The 2026 Summit will also address broader industry themes including AI, trade policy shifts, and ag market dynamics.
Women in Agribusiness Supports the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026
Women in Agribusiness has announced that its 2026 Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit will formally support the United Nations–designated International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026). The Summit will be held September 22–24, 2026, in New Orleans at the Hilton Riverside, coinciding with the organization’s 15th anniversary.
The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer to recognize the essential contributions women make across agrifood systems, from production and processing to trade and distribution. The initiative also aims to promote actions that strengthen food security, nutrition, and economic resilience by addressing gender-based disparities.
Women in Agribusiness and the Goals of IYWF 2026
Advancing Awareness, Access, and Investment
The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 is structured around six core goals. These include increasing public awareness of women’s roles in farming, improving understanding of land tenure challenges, expanding access to finance and markets, strengthening technical support and education, promoting enabling policies and investments, and creating stronger alignment across international initiatives that impact women farmers.
Women in Agribusiness plans to integrate these priorities into its programming and communications by highlighting the experiences and successes of female farmers and by sharing news, surveys, and reports linked to the IYWF 2026 initiative throughout the year.
Elevating Women’s Voices Across Agrifood Systems
According to the organization, particular attention will be placed on women farmers who are actively leading change on farms, ranches, and in rural communities. This includes continued emphasis on the annual Female Producer Panel, a longstanding feature of the Summit.
Women in Agribusiness Marks 15 Years With a Return to New Orleans
Summit Programming and Industry Context
The 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit will return to New Orleans, where the event was first held in 2012. The program is expected to feature speakers and sessions addressing major industry developments, including artificial intelligence in agriculture, supply chain disruptions linked to evolving trade policies, ag technology innovation, and market updates across grains, meat, and other sectors.
The 2025 Summit in Orlando, Florida, brought together more than 700 attendees, with over 55 speakers and 25 sessions, reflecting the event’s continued growth and relevance.
“As we embark on a milestone year as WIA turns 15, this supporting role with the International Year of the Woman Farmer is key to further elevating the efforts of women in ag that we have undertaken for years,” said Svitlana Synkovska, Portfolio Director for Women in Agribusiness.
