Women in BioAg

Women in BioAg: From Presence to Power

From representation to leadership in modern agriculture

By Sue B, Media Manager and KRM, GBA and GBL

Women have always played an important role in agriculture, but their contributions have not always received the recognition, visibility or leadership opportunities they deserve.

From farming and scientific research to entrepreneurship, innovation and business leadership, women are increasingly shaping the future of agriculture. Yet, as women move higher up the professional ladder, their numbers often begin to decline.

This question of what it takes to move women from participation to leadership was at the heart of a recent conversation hosted by Global BioAg Alliance through its Women in Agriculture Sustainability Forum. The discussion brought together three perspectives from different parts of the agricultural and BioAg ecosystem: Sandeepa Kanitkar, Chair of the WIA for Sustainability Forum, Global BioAg Alliance and Managing Director of Kan Biosys; Roberta Vinciguerra, Co-Chair of the WIA for Sustainability Forum, Global BioAg Alliance and COO of Vedalia; and Dunesha Naicker, Head of the Science Division at Afrikelp.

Moderated by Roger Tripathi, Founder of Global BioAg Linkages and Secretary General of Global BioAg Alliance, the conversation went beyond the usual discussion around representation. It explored the barriers women face as they progress through their careers, the importance of mentorship and role models, the need to change social perceptions and the role that industry and institutions can play in creating genuine opportunities.

The discussion also raised a broader question for the agricultural sector: if women represent such a significant part of the workforce and talent pool, what can be done to ensure that their voices are also represented where important decisions are made? The conversation highlighted that leadership opportunities do not always come automatically with experience or hard work. Stronger networks, supportive workplaces and access to opportunities can help women take the next step in their careers.

Mentorship and sponsorship can also give women the confidence and support needed to take on greater responsibilities. At the same time, organisations need to create better ways for women to grow, take career breaks when needed and return without losing opportunities. The speakers also stressed that this is not about women versus men, but about creating equal opportunities based on skills and ability. When women have the chance to lead, agriculture can benefit from a wider range of ideas, skills and experiences.

FROM PARTICIPATION TO LEADERSHIP

Opening the discussion, Roger Tripathi described the purpose behind the Women in Agriculture Sustainability Forum and the wider Global BioAg Alliance ecosystem. The Alliance was created to keep conversations going throughout the year and, more importantly, to turn those conversations into action.

For Tripathi, the focus of this discussion was deliberately framed as “beyond participation.” Women are already participating in agriculture in large numbers, he noted. The next step is to recognise and support the leadership that is already emerging across the sector.

That leadership can take many forms. It can be found among farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, marketers and executives. It does not necessarily begin with a CEO title or a position on a corporate board.

This was an important theme throughout the discussion. Leadership, the speakers agreed, needs to be understood as something that exists throughout the agricultural ecosystem rather than only at the very top.

AN ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY BUILT ON SCIENCE

For Sandeepa Kanitkar, the journey into entrepreneurship began with family, education and an early exposure to the idea that building something of your own was possible.

As Managing Director of Kan Biosys, Kanitkar has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of microbiology, biotechnology and agriculture. Her work has focused on developing microbial solutions for soil health, plant nutrition, disease management and insect management.

Sandeepa’s entrepreneurial journey has involved turning scientific research into products that address real agricultural challenges. It has also meant navigating the uncertainty of building a science-based business. She captured that experience with a striking analogy.

For Kanitkar, entrepreneurship is not about having every answer before beginning. It is about having the willingness to take risks, learn continuously and keep moving towards an ambitious goal.

Kanitkar’s experience also shows why women entrepreneurs in BioAg need support beyond initial funding. Developing an innovative agricultural product can take years of research, formulation, testing, regulatory work and market development. For entrepreneurs, particularly in biologicals, the journey can involve long development cycles and significant capital before a product reaches farmers.

THE AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP PYRAMID

While women may enter agriculture and related scientific fields in significant numbers, their representation often decreases as they move towards senior positions.

Kanitkar experienced this contrast firsthand. She recalled being part of a microbiology education environment where women represented the overwhelming majority of students. Yet, as those students entered the workforce, the numbers changed considerably.

Women often found themselves concentrated in laboratory, quality control or quality assurance roles, while opportunities in industrial locations, field-based positions and senior management were less accessible. The same pattern can be seen more broadly across agriculture.

Women farmers contribute extensively to agricultural production, yet much of their work is still treated as part of family labour rather than recognised as professional or economic activity. As women progress into formal employment, they can also face choices around location, working hours, travel and family responsibilities that influence the career paths available to them.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply to bring more women into agriculture. It is to ensure that there is a strong and continuous pipeline that allows women to progress through every stage of the agricultural value chain.

EUROPE STILL HAS A LEADERSHIP GAP

Roberta Vinciguera brought a European perspective to the conversation and challenged the assumption that Europe has already achieved gender equality in agriculture.

Vinciguera pointed to data and research around women farmers in Europe, noting that women still represent a minority of farmers and that their representation among younger farmers is even lower. The gap becomes more visible when looking at leadership and access to resources.

Vinciguera also highlighted the difference between the number of women receiving agricultural support and the proportion of total funding reaching women. Women may represent a considerable share of beneficiaries, while the overall value of resources directed towards them can remain considerably smaller.

For her, this demonstrates why simply measuring participation is not enough. The conversation needs to move towards questions of access, influence, resources and decision-making.

GENDER BIAS IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE PROBLEM

Vinciguera identified several factors that can influence women’s career progression. Gender bias is one, but it is closely connected to mentorship, sponsorship, networking and work-life balance.

Women can enter universities with strong qualifications and perform well academically, yet their numbers may decline as they move through their careers. This is where mentorship and sponsorship can make a significant difference.

Vinciguera spoke from personal experience. At important moments in her own career, she encountered leaders who trusted her enough to give her responsibility and create opportunities for her to grow. Vinciguera believes those opportunities should not simply depend on luck.

For companies, this means mentorship and sponsorship need to become part of how talent is developed rather than something that happens accidentally.

MATERNITY IS LIKE AN MBA

The discussion around work life balance led to one of the most memorable observations of the conversation. Vinciguera challenged the traditional perception of maternity as a break from professional development.

Her point was that managing family responsibilities can develop skills that are equally valuable in professional life. Managing limited time, balancing multiple priorities, making decisions quickly and coordinating different people all require leadership and organisational abilities.

For women, however, these experiences are often viewed as interruptions rather than part of their professional journey. The challenge for organisations is to create systems that allow women to step away, when necessary, return to work and continue progressing without being permanently pushed backwards in their careers. This requires support not only from employers, but also from families, communities and governments.

MENTORSHIP CAN MAKE ENTREPRENEURSHIP LESS LONELY

The need for mentorship becomes even more significant when looking at entrepreneurship.

Kanitkar explained that entrepreneurs often learn to run a business through trial and error. Human resources, financial management, production systems, standard operating procedures, scaling and technology readiness are areas where inexperienced entrepreneurs can lose valuable time. A good mentor can help shorten that learning curve.

At Kan Biosys, mentorship is already being used in several areas, including human resources, financial literacy, systems and procedures and business scaling. For a growing BioAg company, this type of support can be particularly important because scientific expertise alone does not guarantee commercial success.

Kanitkar believes a future accelerator for women entrepreneurs should therefore provide access to experienced and properly validated mentors who understand the realities of building agricultural businesses. The objective would not simply be to help entrepreneurs start companies. It would be to help them build organisations that can survive, scale and create long-term impact.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, NOT MEN VERSUS WOMEN

The conversation took another important turn when Dunesha Naicker shared her perspective from South Africa.

Naicker explained that at Afrikelp, where she heads the science division, the focus has been on finding people who are suited to the roles they are being asked to perform. The fact that women occupy leadership positions has developed organically rather than through a deliberate attempt to place women into positions. Their presence reflects growing recognition of diverse leadership and the contributions women bring across different areas of the agricultural sector.

Her message was straightforward.

That perspective resonated with the other speakers, while also opening up an important discussion.

BioAg World Digest | Summer 2026