The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Women Farmer. An opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and support millions of women globally whose work is essential to food security, nutrition, and sustainable development. Emerging as leaders and contributors in poultry environments and in egg production.
Global Spotlight on Women in Agriculture
Women farmers reflect a broad and inclusive reality. They consisting of all the women working across agrifood systems, in every segment of the value chain and in every region of the world. This can include:
- Farmers, producers, smallholder and family farmers
- Seasonal agricultural workers and informal laborers
- Fishers, fish workers, beekeepers, pastoralists, and foresters
- Processors, traders, and rural entrepreneurs
Traditional knowledge holders and women in agricultural sciences
They are central to food security, nutrition, and economic resilience. Playing an important role in food production and rural development. Contributing significantly to crop cultivation livestock rearing, food processing, and household nutrition. Regardless of land ownership or employment status, they value both formal and informal works, including leadership, care, and domestic labor. Declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer is not only about celebrating these contributions but also about driving change and awareness. With the goal of working towards closing the gaps in agrifood systems. With key objectives including:
Raising awareness of women’s roles in agrifood systems and any barriers they may face
- Highlighting persistent challenges, such as unequal access to education and services, insecure land tenure, and more
- Encouraging gender-responsive policies and investments that empower women farmers
- Strengthening collaboration among international initiatives, governments, civil society, and grassroots movements working to support women in agrifood systems
This initiative aims to have a impact beyond 2026.
The Growing Role of Women in Egg Production
A third of women worldwide earn a living from agriculture, responsible for up to 80 percent of food production in low and middle income countries. Yet they own less than 15 percent of agricultural land and receive less than 10 percent of agricultural loans, which hinders their ability to invest in more agricultural land, livestock, like chickens, and other tools and resources that could help them increase their income. While also, often being excluded from decision-making, formal markets and co-ops, losing out on better prices, training, and market intelligence.
In order to be able to create lasting change, governments, funders, NGO’s and companies must work together to remove barriers that prevent women farmers from having access to tools and resources that will help them succeed and reach their full potential. Closing this gap will help many across the world by working towards strengthening food security worldwide in order to feed millions of more people.
Improving women’s access to resources creates a ripple effect that helps entire communities. With access to trainings and technology, women farmers would grow, process, and sell more food, which could help lift 150 million people out of food insecurity.
Why Egg Wholesalers and Retail Brands Are Highlighting Female Farmers
Many wholesalers and retail brands are beginning to highlight female farmers and their efforts in contributing and improving the agrifood industry. Women farmers have the ability to help millions of people who are facing food insecurity. Their work is impactful. The new campaign launched by the United Nations, represents a meaningful step toward narrowing the gender gap, empowering women to raise their profile and expand their influence throughout the poultry industry, from farm management to egg production. Across the egg production landscape, egg wholesalers and retail brands are actively highlighting female farmers to:
- Recognize their essential contributions
- Promote diversity and representation
- Mentorship and networking
- Addressing future trends
Women’s influence grows stronger every year, over the lasty decade it there has been a 13% increase in the number of female farmers in California.
What This Means for Buyers in 2026
Buyers will likely be on the search to support this initiative since it helps decrease food insecurity around the world. By supporting women farmers, they will be contributing to an initiative that is being spotlighted worldwide while also helping many around the world have access to food.
As retailers work on strengthening ESG, reporting standards, supplier diversity, and souring transparency are becoming measurable priorities. Guidelines established by Global Reporting Initiative and IFRS Foundation emphasize responsible sourcing and supply chain accountability particularly in food and agriculture.
Highlighting women in egg productions supports:
- Enhanced ESG reporting metrics
- Greater sourcing transparency across egg distribution networks
- Stronger story telling around responsible procurement
Women farmers are ready to be seen and contribute to more in agrifood.
Eggs Unlimited’s Perspective as a Global Egg Wholesaler
For egg wholesalers and distributors, such as Eggs Unlimited, expanding supplier networks to include more women-led farms is not only s social initiative but also a strategic business decision. Insights from the Internation Egg Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organization highlight the important of inclusive agriculture systems strengthening global food security.
Supporting women in egg production can contribute to:
- Expanded and diversified supplier networks
- Stronger relationships withing white egg wholesale markets
- Greater long-term stability in global egg distribution
Since 2026 is the year of spotlighting women farmers, egg wholesalers have an opportunity to reinforce sourcing strategies while strengthening the global egg supply chain.
Beyond 2026: A Long-Term Shift in Egg Production Leadership
Closing the long-standing gender gap in agrifood could raise incomes for 58 million more people and boost resilience for 235 million, through targeted development interventions to support women farmers especially in rural areas. With support women will no longer be confined by the limitations imposed by their circumstances and instead emerge as entrepreneurs. The impact has the opportunity to extend beyond economic empowerment, inserting itself into every aspect of many women farmers lives around the world.
Currently there is still so much that can be done to help women farmers. Providing access to training, resources, and markets is essential for their continued success. Poultry farming is a powerful tool to support women’s empowerment due to it accessibility, flexibility, and potential for economic independence.
This is only the beginning of a long lasting change in the agrifood industry for women.
WHY EGGS UNLIMITED
As a global egg wholesaler operating across 600+ locations, Eggs Unlimited understands that strong egg production starts at the farm level. Women are playing an increasingly important role in poultry management, flock health, and operational leadership, helping strengthen the consistency and quality that white egg wholesale markets depend on. By working with a diverse network of producers, including women-led farms, we help support a more resilient and stable egg distribution system.
We work with some of the largest egg producers, retailers, distributors, foodservice organizations, QSRs, and processors in the US and around the world. They trust us to provide competitive prices and take care of logistics from pickup to delivery. Acting as an extension of our customers’ procurement or sales teams, creating value, providing solutions, and delivering on time and in full. The company is built on family values, and we strive to work harder than anyone in the industry to service the needs of our customers.
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