National Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Network Project

Project Highlights

The National Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Network Project is committed to fostering the advancement of women in agriculture by addressing critical barriers and creating opportunities for leadership development. Here are some of the main components and goals of the project:

National Women in Agriculture Network:

• Developing an Action Plan in collaboration with regional/provincial organizations.
• Establishing mission, vision, and values statements to guide the network.
• Setting short and long-term objectives to achieve 30% leadership representation by 2030.
• Implementing an interim governance structure to guide decision-making until a formal board is established.
• Engaging stakeholders through a series of webinars to validate the Action Plan and gather feedback.

Research and Surveys:

• Marking the 10th anniversary of the Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture (SAWA) initiative by updating and distributing a national survey.
• Conducting focus groups and key informant interviews to validate the survey results.
• Publishing a report comparing findings from 2015 and 2025, with actionable recommendations for future progress.

Networking and Professional Development:

• Facilitating regional and community networking events to connect women in agriculture.
• Providing funding and resources for local groups to support professional development activities.
• Developing manuals and guidelines to help community leaders organize successful events.

Knowledge Mobilization:

• Ensuring that research findings, the Action Plan, and all related activities are communicated effectively to industry stakeholders and the public.
• Utilizing social media, articles, infographics, presentations, media interviews, white papers, and op-eds to raise awareness and share progress.