On 28 February 2025, the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) convened a panel titled Leveraging Digital Innovations to Improve the Work of Women in Agriculture in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ESCAP. The event brought together policymakers, experts, farmers, and practitioners to discuss how digital tools can empower women farmers, enhance their resilience, and create more inclusive food systems and contribute to the regional review of SDG5 and SDG8 at the twelfth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. Mr. Ye Xuenong, Permanent Representative of China to ESCAP and Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP opened the event.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana emphasized the critical role women play in agricultural production, while noting their ongoing limited access to technologies and finance which perpetuates a significant gender gap in yields. While recognizing that a digital divide also remains and needs to be addressed, she highlighted that “The rapidly developing applications for smart farming and smart mechanization present us with opportunities to overcome existing structural barriers and enhance women's productivity, improve work conditions, and foster economic independence”.
The event was also the opportunity to launch CSAM’s third publication in a series on gender mainstreaming in sustainable agricultural mechanization, titled Case Studies on Women’s Empowerment for Innovative and Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in China (available at https://www.un-csam.org/publications/CaseStudies202502). Dr. Yutong Li, Head of CSAM, presented the case studies which feature three success stories of women in the agriculture sector in China and seeks to offer insights for scaling up gender-responsive innovations and practices across the Asia-Pacific region, providing actionable recommendations to enhance agricultural sustainability through the empowerment of women.
A panel of experts, comprising of regional representatives from government institutions, farmers’ associations, academia, and international organizations, followed the launch of the case studies. The accomplished panelists were: Dr. Dares Kittiyopas, President, Thai Society of Agricultural Engineering; Dr. Yang Minli, Professor, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University and Director, China Research Center for Agricultural Mechanization Development; Engr. Pema Wangmo, Dy. Executive Engineer, Agricultural Machinery Centre of Bhutan; Ms. He Dan, Member of China Economic and Social Council (CESC), Professor and Vice Dean of Law School, Beijing Normal University; Ms. Irish Baguilat, Coordinator, Women Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture Agenda, Asian Farmers Association; Mr. Stefanos Fotiou, Director, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, Director, FAO Office of Sustainable Development Goals; and Ms. Maria Jones, Policy Specialist, UN Women. The ensuing discussion addressed strategies to enhance women’s access to digital tools, their role in agricultural engineering for the development and expansion of gender-responsive agricultural technologies, and opportunities to bolster partnerships for advancing sustainable agricultural mechanization.
Panelists emphasized that while digital agriculture holds great potential, closing the gender digital divide is crucial to achieving meaningful progress. To unlock the full potential of digital agriculture, governments, international organizations, and the private sector must collaborate to create inclusive policies, invest in digital infrastructure, and ensure that women have the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to succeed.