On 06 February 2024, the Agro Woman initiative was hosted at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland. The meeting was opened by Carolien Spaans, Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw.
We discussed supporting women in agriculture and examples of actions taken by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to support their role in challenges related to ensuring food security and climate change.
The Netherlands strongly supports feminist foreign policy. We are committed to ensuring equal rights and equality for women, as well as for minority groups. If we want to implement our sustainable development programme, we also have to strengthen the position of women in agriculture. In addition to transitioning to a more sustainable sector, we are also talking about social transformation. For this purpose, in shaping our society, we need diversity in politics and decision-making, also within agricultural associations. Consequently, we are pleased to support Agro Woman as a platform for open discussion and exchange of best practices.
– emphasized Ms Daphne Bergsma, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Food Quality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also supports and directly finances various initiatives at the national and European levels to strengthen the position of women in agriculture.
The meeting was attended by Ms Helma Vermuë-Joziasse, Vice-President of The Women’s Committee of the European Copa-Cogeca, Chairperson of LTO Woman & Business, who shared her experience in supporting women within the actions of the Association of Farmers and Horticulturists in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
LTO Woman & Business, through its activities, strengthens the socio-economic position of women in farming households, increases women’s awareness of their role in financial and social standings, stimulates women’s leadership, including in administrative functions. All this is based on the exchange of knowledge and experience. We have a mentoring program for women, and as part of additional activities, we carry out a campaign for the mental well-being of female farmers and male farmers.
– said Helma Vermuë-Joziasse during the meeting.
LTO Woman & Business provides support, raises awareness, and facilitates the creation of knowledge networks. Focusing on personal and social challenges, it creates perspective and actively contributes to a future-oriented agricultural sector – for women and their families.
The meeting was attended by:
- Daphne Bergsma, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland
- Carolien Spaans, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland
- Olaf Horbańczuk, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland
- Bożena Bochenek, Embassy of France in Poland
- Lidia Trochimiak, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Warsaw
- Anna Galica, US Embassy in Poland
- dr hab. Monika Stanny, Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- dr Sylwia Michalak, Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- dr Anna Rosa, Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Nina Dobrzyńska , Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Poland
- Hanna Chodkowska, Presidency of the Women’s Committee of Copa-Cogeca
- Karolina Tarnawska, Association for Sustainable Agriculture & Food in Poland
- Małgorzata Bojańczyk, Association for Sustainable Agriculture & Food in Poland
Agro Woman is an initiative of the Association for Sustainable Agriculture & Food in Poland, aimed at creating a platform for women to share their experience, stories, and space for discussions about the role of sustainability in agriculture, innovations, management, and future challenges.
We thank the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland for the invitation and hospitality!
We also thank Agro News for media support!