15 April 2026, Beijing – As part of the German Embassy Beijing’s annual Spring Reception, the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) co-hosted the expert event “Empowering Women in Agriculture – Voices, Visions, Visibility,” marking the UN International Year of Women in Agriculture 2026.
The event brought together stakeholders from policy, research, and practice to discuss the role of women in shaping sustainable agricultural systems. It highlighted the importance of inclusive approaches to agricultural development and the need to strengthen the visibility and participation of women across the sector.
The event opened with welcome remarks followed by three keynote inputs offering international, Chinese, and German perspectives. Carlos Aldeco Reyes-Retana, Head of the FAO China Office, provided a global perspective on gender and agriculture. Chang Tianle, founder of the NGO Foodthink and organizer of the Beijing Farmers’ Market, shared insights into the situation in China. Theresa Schmidt, Federal Chair of the German Rural Youth Association (BDL), reflected on experiences from Germany, with a focus on youth engagement and rural development.
These inputs were followed by a panel discussion moderated by DCZ’s Head of Science Dialogue Rita Merkle, bringing together practitioners from different regions of China. Shi Yan, founder of Shared Harvest Farm in Beijing, Lynn (Xi) Chen from Zhaoxishe Seeds2Table Eco-Farm in Guizhou Province, and Zhou Jinzhi from Jiahe Agriculture in Hainan Province shared their experiences from the field. The discussion highlighted practical challenges as well as concrete opportunities for strengthening women’s participation, entrepreneurship, and leadership at farm level.
Discussions underscored that enhancing the role of women in agriculture is not only a matter of equity, but also a key factor for innovation and sustainability. Participants pointed to existing initiatives and practical measures that can further support women’s engagement across agricultural value chains.
The expert event was followed by the Embassy’s Spring Reception, providing an opportunity for continued exchange among participants.
