The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognizing the essential role women play across agrifood systems and the need to highlight contributions and milestones that women have achieved. In Canada, this recognition comes at a time of meaningful change. According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, women represent 30 percent of farm operators, which is roughly 80,000 farmers nationwide (Statistics Canada, 2022). This marks the first increase in three decades. Ontario leads the country with the highest proportion of women farmers, and the number of women managing farms with more than $2 million in annual revenue has grown by over 80 percent (Statistics Canada, 2022). This is a notable shift from earlier Census cycles, when women’s work was often categorized as “help” rather than leadership (FCC, 2023). Today’s data reflects an expansion in the opportunities and influence women have in the agricultural sector.
Insights from Nancy Brown Addison
To understand how this shift has unfolded over time, we spoke with Ontario beef farmer and agricultural advocate Nancy Brown Andison. Brown Andison graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc. Agr.) as part of the OAC Class of 1979 and currently is the Chair, Board of Trustees at the University of Guelph. She broke barriers as the first female OAC class president in a cohort that, at the time, represented a record high for women in the OAC: 30 percent female and 70 percent male. Reflecting on that milestone, she notes just how dramatically the landscape has changed. “Fast forward to today, and it’s 70 percent female and 30 percent male,” she says. “It’s more exciting now than ever to be graduating from agricultural education in Canada.”
Transformational Change
Brown Andison believes the pace and scale of technological change is transforming the sector in ways that are unprecedented. “Some would call it generational,” she explains. “I’d say it’s century‑level in depth of change.” She points to innovations reshaping production systems, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology breakthroughs such as precision fermentation, controlled‑environment agriculture, robotics, and laser‑based weed control already being prototyped for vegetable growers. “AI is just one component of the technology,” she says. “When you put that all together, the technological advancements are just so exciting and moving at such pace.”
Opportunities Abound
For Brown Andison, two forces make this an especially promising moment for women entering agriculture. “Canadians have come to understand the importance of food production,” she says, noting a shift in public awareness. “And we have leadership from governments, both provincially and federally, that understand the importance of food security for Canada and the opportunity the agri‑food sector has to generate revenue, contribute to economic value, and support employment.” She believes the role young women will play in shaping that opportunity is significant. “The role that young women are going to bring to the table is going to be equally as great in terms of opportunities.”
Brown Andison sees many traditional barriers fading, especially in primary production. “Technology has removed so many of the limitations that once held women back,” she explains. However, she is clear that sociological challenges persist. “There are still issues around the full respect and treatment of women,” she says. She emphasizes the importance of representation in leadership. “You have to have 30 percent women on a board for their voices to be heard.” Her message is firm: “You can’t take your foot off the pedal or the ground you’ve gained will slip.”
Preparing to Enter the Agri-Food Sector
When asked what skills young women should build to advance in agriculture, Brown Andison highlights the importance of strong technical skills, analytical and judgment skills, especially as AI becomes more integrated into decision making, and strong interpersonal abilities. She believes that as AI becomes more common, judgment will be critical – knowing when to follow the feedback and when not to. She also stresses the importance of building networks for personal advancement and business success, noting that connection and community remain essential in a rapidly evolving sector.
As we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Ontario’s agricultural community has so much to recognize. The data shows progress. The stories show resilience. And leaders like Nancy Brown Andison remind us that the future of farming is stronger, more innovative, and more inclusive when women are at the table. Women have always been essential to agriculture, and in 2026, the world pauses to recognize it.
Sources:
Statistics Canada. (2022). A Portrait of Canada’s Female Farm Operators.
Statistics Canada. (2022). 2021 Census of Agriculture Highlights.
Farm Credit Canada. (2023). Women in Agriculture: Trends and Insights