Webinar highlights: Women in value chains and agri-food systems transformation

Webinar highlights: Women in value chains and agri-food systems transformation

29 September 2026

APAARI, together with ARINEENA, CACAARI, FARA and CIRDAP, hosted a webinar on "Women in Value Chains and Agri-Food Systems Transformation" as part of a 2026 webinar series organised to celebrate and recognise the International Year of Women Farmers.

The webinar provided a platform to highlight the contributions of women farmers and women working across agri-food value chains, while creating opportunities for regional knowledge exchange and collaboration. The discussion focused on women's participation and leadership and examined how their engagement could contribute to more resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems.

Opening Remarks

Dr. Joanna Kane‑Potaka, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR), delivered the opening remarks, which centred on Equitable Partnerships and their role in agri-food transformation.

Watch and Learn More

📖 Watch the webinar: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7xuHgCJ16M&t=717s]

Webinar Highlights

The session brought together a distinguished panel of experts from across regions and sectors:

  • Dr. Arjun Singh Saini — HOD, Directorate of Horticulture Haryana, Government of India
  • Ms. Lama Najib — Training and Capacity Development, FAO
  • Mr. Anil Kumar S. G. — Founder, Chairman, Samunnati
  • Dr. Jyoti Saroop — Founder & Director, Unati Cooperative; biotechnology expert and social entrepreneur
  • Ms. Naheeda Maqbool — CEO & Founder, Zanah United / Zogarnic Fiji
  • Dr. Tala Qtaishat — Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, School of Agriculture, University of Jordan
  • Dr. Karen Munoko — Agribusiness Expert, FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa)

Key Themes and Discussions

The webinar explored several dimensions of women's involvement in agri-food value chains, including:

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Aggregation
  • Processing
  • Market integration

It also examined the institutional, financial and digital conditions that could enable women to participate more effectively and take on stronger leadership roles.

Access to finance, appropriate institutions, digital tools, markets and networks were considered important elements in creating an enabling environment for women's economic engagement.

By bringing together organisations and stakeholders from across regions, the webinar emphasised the value of sharing experiences and approaches that can strengthen women's roles throughout agri-food systems.

A Broader Recognition

Overall, the session recognised women farmers not only as important producers, but also as entrepreneurs, processors, market actors and leaders contributing to the transformation of food systems.