Women are vital actors in the agricultural sector – making up as much as 80% of the workforce in some parts of the world – yet their work is often not valued or recognised in the way men’s work might be. Agriculture is often still perceived as a man’s business, removing women from decision-making processes and depriving our food systems of their abilities and traditional knowledge.

Gender equity means justice and fairness of treatment for women and men according to their respective needs¹. This can include both equal treatment or treatment that’s differentiated, mindful of differences in benefits, obligations, and opportunities. To ensure fairness, measures must often be put in place to compensate for the historical, cultural, and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from operating on a level playing field. Equity is a mean, equality is the result!

Within the context of organic agriculture, gender refers to women’s and men’s roles within value chains and responsibilities that are socially determined.