Research findings presented at the conference clearly indicate that intentionally incorporating women’s empowerment into agricultural programs, projects, and policies yields significant benefits. These benefits include increased agricultural productivity, improved nutrition for children, enhanced dietary diversity, greater food security, and increased resilience to climate change impacts

The international gender conference “From research to impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems” concluded in New Delhi on 12 October , 2023. Global experts and researchers, hosted by the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), emphasised the critical importance of strengthening women’s empowerment and leadership in agri-food systems.

The conference was held on October 9and 12, 2023, and its insights are closely aligned with the recent commitments made by G20 leaders during the successful G20 Summit. These commitments revolve around advancing women-led development and women’s leadership in food security, nutrition, and climate action.

Research findings presented at the conference clearly indicate that intentionally incorporating women’s empowerment into agricultural programs, projects, and policies yields significant benefits. These benefits include increased agricultural productivity, improved nutrition for children, enhanced dietary diversity, greater food security, and increased resilience to climate change impacts.

Notably, the conference highlighted Farmer Producer Organisations and similar collectives as effective approaches for improving women’s access to markets, resources, agency, and empowerment. It was stressed that achieving just and resilient agri-food systems requires fostering women’s leadership at all levels of innovation, decision-making, and policy formulation.

Summarising the conference’s key takeaways,  Seema Jaggi, Assistant Director General (HRD) at ICAR, emphasised the four priority areas agreed upon by G20 leaders. These include investments in food security and nutrition, climate-smart approaches, inclusive agricultural value chains, and digitalization for agricultural transformation. CGIAR and ICAR were acknowledged as key players in informing these priority areas.

Ranjitha Puskur, Country Representative for India and Research Leader of Gender and Livelihoods at the International Rice Research Institute, called for stronger partnerships between researchers and research users. This collaborative effort is essential for generating the necessary evidence to inform policymaking effectively.   Ranjitha Puskur also underscored the need for enhanced partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and the private sector.

Maureen Miruka from CARE USA,  Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess from GIZ, and  Vicki Wilde from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided their perspectives on advancing from research to impact. They emphasised the importance of designing agricultural solutions that consider the unique needs and constraints of women smallholders.

This four-day international agricultural gender research conference featured 4 plenary sessions, 54 parallel sessions, and 6 poster sessions, bringing together delegates from over 60 countries. The conference aimed to explore how agricultural gender research can contribute to creating more resilient and just agri-food systems.