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 “Women’s roles are changing as part of the constantly evolving social, environmental, cultural and economic contexts they live in.”

Maria Agovino is Alltech’s European Technical Sales Manager for Ruminants based in Switzerland. She focuses on business, product development and technical support, plus strategic planning. Ahead of the WFA Summit, we asked her to share her thoughts on some of the big issues facing women in the agrifood sector.

What is your background and how did you get started in the industry?

Maria: I graduated in 2003 in Animal Science, specialising in Ruminant Nutrition at the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences at Napoli University ‘Federico II’, Italy. I then did a postgraduate course, ‘Agrifood Innovative System Manager’. This means I am a Cow Signals® trainer. I can train colleagues as well as farmers to know the basic needs of the cow, learn to recognise early disease signals and understand the concepts of health, management, housing, feed and economics. I joined Alltech in 2005 and since then I have been covering different roles as Distributor Manager, Key Account Manager for Italy. Subsequently I moved to Switzerland to take on a new challenge as the ruminant specialist for Europe.

What are the key drivers in agriculture and food? What are the main challenges the sector is facing now?

Maria: I would like to think that the key drivers are the consumers. They are broadly interested in supporting sustainable and ethical food production. The consumption is increasingly being driven by the heart: consumers are making choices defined by their positive impact on the world.

There are several long-term challenges that face agriculture. The population is growing, especially in developing countries, and global food demand is increasing as a result. Water quality and availability threaten current agricultural standards. The greatest challenge to me, is improving the consumer’s perception of modern agriculture often perceived as negatively impacting the environment.

What role do women play in agriculture today and how you can see it changing in the future?

Maria: The contribution of women to agricultural and food production is significant. Women are the backbone of the rural economy, especially in developing countries.  Women’s participation in rural labour markets varies considerably across regions, but invariably women are over represented in unpaid, seasonal and part-time work, and the available evidence suggests that women are often paid less than men, for the same work and sometimes their activities are not always acknowledged. For example, farm activities of women smallholder farmers are often considered to be part of their domestic chores. Therefore, their contributions remain informal and do not get due recognition. Today, their roles are changing as part of the constantly evolving social, environmental, cultural and economic contexts they live in. Worldwide, women are impressively demonstrating that they are willing and able to use their qualifications and growing self-determination in order to directly increase social prosperity and to preserve natural resources. Historical perception of a male driven business. Agriculture needs a change and having women as decision makers and or covering roles of responsibility can represent that change

Our research highlights that investing in women is becoming more important for businesses in the food and agricultural sector and the importance of promoting the sector to younger generation. Where do you think there are opportunities for women in the sector?

Maria: I think there are opportunities everywhere. Women have the skills that modern farming needs; we are natural multi-taskers, good communicators and used to hard work. Sensibility, determination, resourcefulness, creativity of women are essential ingredients in agriculture. More women need to be involved steering the direction of the industry.

How can we inspire the future of women and diversity in our industry?

Maria: There are hundreds of women who inspire us in agriculture and food, though there are still not enough! They are entrepreneurs, stewards of the land, business owners, researchers, farmers, and innovators who are the backbone of the world’s food systems.

What should agribusinesses be doing better?

Maria: There is a lot to do. We need to improve the status of women in agriculture and rural areas; increase awareness that policies have different impacts on women and men; guarantee gender equality both on paper and in practice; promote female participation in decision-making processes and recognise women’s work burden.

Ahead of the WFA Summit 2019, AgriBriefing spoke to Julia Ronghua Zhu, who leads the Mycotoxin Management and Poultry teams at Alltech.

Julia has always had a passion for animal nutrition and graduated from China Agriculture University in 2008, before joining Dachan Group. She worked at the firm’s Tianjin feed business for six years, mainly focussing on poultry nutrition.

What is your background in agriculture?

When I was in Danchan Group, although I worked in the R&D department, my role saw me undertake a lot of other duties, such as experimental technician, formulator, marketing assistant and salesperson. It has been an interesting and rewarding journey. At Alltech I often visit customers with the sales team to audit the feed mills, helping our customers to improve the production and prevent mycotoxin contamination.

What are the key drivers in agriculture and food? What are the main challenges the sector is facing now?

I think the key driver is the consumptive power of consumers and the challenge as an industry is to react to that. The main challenges in China is African Swine Fever.

What role do women play in agriculture today and how you can see it changing in the future?

I think men and women are equal in this field, and maybe women will be more and more important.

Where do you think there are opportunities for women in the sector?

There are many opportunities for women in the agri food, especially in research and in sales. In terms of natural skills, women are patient, persistent and good at communicating and understanding others.

How can we encourage more women to join the sector?

 We need to overcome the pay gap. In general, women are not as well paid as men and that can be off-putting to women, especially those starting out their careers.

However, we are seeing more and more outstanding women in this field.

What can agribusinesses do better?

I think for a highly integrated enterprise, it needs more and more professionals to participate in the field of excellence.

Julia Ronghua Zhu, leads the Mycotoxin Management and Poultry teams at Alltech.

There is a lot to be said for leveraging on our strengths, and this is a mindset Bianca Martins has firmly adopted on her road to success.

In just 12 years, Bianca has upped through the ranks at Alltech since landing a job on the sales floor in 2007, to being appointed as country manager for Mexico earlier this year.

“There are no limits for women in the field,” says Bianca.

“But we can see more success when women respect their own natural aptitudes.”

Bianca graduated as an animal scientist, with a MBA in Agribusiness and master degree in animal production and nutrition in 1998, and, eager to get a foothold in the ladder, then began working in a large-scale monogastrics production company in Brazil, before joining Alltech.

Relishing in the opportunities presented to gather experience during this time, Bianca spent time in the premix department as well as with the research team in the laboratory of animal nutrition, biochemistry and poultry patology.

Around that time, Bianca recalls a somewhat male dominated sector.

She recalls having just a few female colleagues in the field, but never any in the same company.

“Curiously, I never had a female reference in my work line, not even in research or finance, all men, says Bianca.

“I remember in my beginnings in the agribusiness, I took the liberty to count in my mind how many women I could find in the national congress we had back in the year of 1997.

“There were 250 people in the room, but it was an easy task; we were just seven women and were made up of four internal nutritionists and three in the field with farmers, including me.”

Working in a sector she says is now challenged daily to reinvent itself and stay profitable, Bianca credits those who have walked the path before her.

“Women started to change the field more than 20 years ago, when they decided to have a presence in agribusiness.

“The first ag women had to fight to have a voice in the industry.

“I saw some of the representatives of this generation facilitate extraordinary changes in the way we produce food.

“I had the feeling they were giants when I was young, with a strong voice who commanded a lot of respect where ever they decided to be.

“They opened all the doors to the next generation, one in which I am now included as a woman.”

Fast-forward to the present and the industry today is one which Bianca believes has accepted woman as having an important, but different role to that of men.

“It doesn´t mean better or worse,” she continues.

“It means the industry has accepted any gender with the same objective, working together to achieve a common goal.

“But we live in times of unprecedented change.

“The way we live, familiar relationships, politics, education, food and beliefs have been changing so deeply in the last decades, giving us so many new factors to deal with daily.”

Communication and technology, Bianca says, are central to some of this and manifest as some of the challenges facing us in the future.

“Agribusiness should find a way to share more information with consumers, the current generation of whom want to eat healthily, with less impact to the environment.

“Managing and adapting technological advances in the field also needs careful organisation, in terms of incorporating these to improve production and traceability which is demanded by our supply chains.

“It will be revolutionary, for example, if the industry can find ways to predict a disease and prevent it before collapsing a system, as we have seen with the ASF situation in China recently.

“Are robots, block chain, face recognition the new tools of the future?”

With such change afoot, Bianca feels woman can focus on the attributes that set them apart from their male counterparts in pursuit of success.

“Women are amazing leaders, with a high level of team spirit and exceptional guides in a culture of change.”

“In some anthropology research of female nature, we can find protection and prevention as main behaviors of female groups.

“When a group of animals are in danger in wild, the females are the first to alarm and protect the group, sometimes at a detriment to their individual goals.

“Transporting this idea to human relationships, in any kind of project where women can express their carefulness and respect of individuality, they will succeed.”

In an industry which Bianca feels is rich in opportunity, there is space for individuals of any gender who have the willingness and drive to want to join it and be successful.

“I always repeat to the new ones “If you can dream it, you can do it, just make an extra effort to make it quickly.”

Bianca Martins
Country Head, Alltech

Around the world, women are integral to ensuring food security. As the industry becomes more advanced and entrepreneurial, the sector will be dominated by women who are more diverse, creative, and resilient.

Jennifer Del Rio grew up on a southern Philippine island dubbed ‘the land of promise’, where food is grown, harvested and consumed more cheaply than in other areas in the country. Her parents had a small farm producing broilers, layers and pigs, which provided food for the family and income for her education.

But she says it wasn’t until she’d done a philosophy degree and worked for a non-governmental project on improving crops and market access, that she fully grasped the challenges facing backyard farmers.

The experience was “like a treasure box being unlocked”, as she discovered her love for agriculture and the opportunities in the sector.

Now she works as Alltech’s sales manager in the Philippines, where she has been for six years. Her job involves spending a lot of time on-farm doing business with customers, from feed-millers, to commercial farmers, and dealers.

“I am a believer of we are what we ate, so with the innovations now in agriculture, we cannot just level-up our productivity, but must prosper by keeping our produce safe to eat and protect Mother Earth,” says Ms Del Rio.

 What are the main challenges facing agriculture?

Climate change and global warming are huge challenges, says Ms Del Rio, and education on this could “make or break” people coming together to tackle it.

Telling the story of Alltech’s ‘Planet of Plenty’ initiative, is one way to educate people, she says. The Planet of Plenty vision calls for a new era of collaboration across industry sectors and geographical boundaries, to create a place where animals, plants, and people thrive in harmony.

“It is also wise to see how we can improve performance at the farm level, to provide nutritious foods for consumers using the latest innovations,” she adds.

What role do women play in agriculture? How might this change?

“Globally, there is an empirical evidence that women have a decisive role in ensuring food security,” says Ms Del Rio.

“We all know that agriculture is an important engine of growth that can reduce poverty. Women’s roles in managing complex household and multiple livelihood strategies to sustain their families, are clearly shown.”

But women’s roles will change as society does and technology becomes more advanced, predicts Ms Del Rio.

“Online business that indirectly involves agricultural enterprises is slowly rising, and women are the one’s good at it,” she says. “Entrepreneurship in promoting advanced agricultural will soon be dominated by women who are more diverse, creative, and resilient.”

Where are the opportunities for women in the sector?

There are opportunities at all levels of food and agriculture, says Ms Del Rio. “Currently in the Philippines, we have Filipina farmers, Filipina chefs, Filipina managers in FMCG and a lovely Filipina preparing food for every filipino family table.

“I believe that when we have a strong network of women in these sectors, we have a strong family, which is a basic unit in society, and a basic force in the agricultural and food industry.”

How can we inspire the future of women and diversity in our industry?

“I can’t think of a better way to inspire women than to tell my story,” says Ms Del Rio. “I believe my story is a testament to how agriculture and food provide us opportunities to be in school, to complete degrees, to start livelihoods, and learn from companies about maximising produce and marketing.”

What should agribusinesses be doing better?

“Getting everyone involved, including the young – that is the best way to further agriculture. That way food and the future are interconnected, so that these important sectors continue feeding the new breed of heroes, farmers and food producers.”

Jennifer Del Rio
Sales Manager, Alltech

Women in Food and Agriculture: Final speakers added to an impressive line-up

With an unrivalled line-up of speakers announced for the inaugural Women in Food and Agriculture Summit, we are excited to reveal the final round of top leaders from international and regional agribusinesses and food companies who will be speaking.

There’s just two weeks to go until the Women in Food and Agriculture Summit in Amsterdam on 3-4 December 2019. More than 250 executives from global agribusinesses, food and retail companies have already committed to this global Summit and are attending from all corners of the world.

Among the companies that will be speaking at the Summit are Alltech, Cargill, Bayer, ADM, Rabobank, Bunge, Elanco, AgriSat, Syngenta, BASF, Metro, Sodexo, Diageo, DeLaval, Unilever, FAO, World Bank, NFU, Salmon Group, Trouw Nutrition, Wageningen University, IFFO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Microsoft and many more (full list of participants below).

Attendees will have an unprecedented opportunity to discover insights and learn from industry pioneers in our Innovation Hour sessions, plus our Panel Discussions bring together world leaders in food and agribusiness to discuss climate change, the future of global agriculture and the most pressing issues facing our industry.

Women in food and Agriculture will help create an engaged community across the entire supply chain with attendees having the opportunity to invest in their development and celebrate the achievements of those who are the backbone of the world’s food systems.

The Summit will also offer an unparalleled combination of talks and discussions on the latest techniques, industry updates and practical strategies. Primarily, the need for greater inclusion and equality in the industry will be addressed and the value gained through diversity will be showcased.

Through these workshops and discussions, the Summit will provide industry participants with all the tools they need to excel in their career and create better business outcomes in the most important sector in the world.

By sharing experiences across the whole supply chain, the Summit will connect regional and international food and agribusiness leaders, advance the industry and help companies to achieve stronger business outcomes.

Take a look at the impressive list of organisations already taking part in the event.

Tickets are selling quickly and are still available to purchase via the website.

Join the phenomenal female leaders who are making history thorough innovation and growing the ag sector for tomorrow!

List of confirmed speakers:

1. Anne-Kristine Oen, CEO, Salmon Group
2. Alexia Michiels, Partner and Co-founder, The Resilience Institute Europe
3. Baroness Rosie Boycott
4. Caroline Drummond, CEO, LEAF
5. Jane Rickson, President of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers and Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation, Cranfield; Soil and AgriFood Institute
6. Rima Al-Azar, Senior Natural Resources Officer, Climate and Environment Division, FAO of UN
7. Lone Andersen, Vice President, Danish Agriculture and Food Council
8. Maria Schütz Fløisand, CCO, Salmon Group
9. Kathleen Offman Mathisen, Global HR Director and Internal Communication, Grieg Seafood
10. JackBobo, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President, Intrexon Corporation
11. Petter M. Johannessen, Director General, IFFO
12. Karl Deering, Director of Climate Resilient Agriculture, CARE
13. Tanja Havemann, Director, Clarmondial
14. Alison Capper, Chairman, NFU’s National Horticulture & Potatoes Board, English Apples & Pears and Wye Hops
15. Nicky Deasy, Managing Partner, The Yield Lab Europe
16. Sarah Bell, Independent Farmer and Member, NFU Crops Board
17. Geeta Sethi, Senior Advisor, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank
18. Christine Tacon, Groceries Code Adjudicator
19. Barbara Baarsma, CEO, Rabobank Amsterdam; Professor of Applied Economics, the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam
20. Tanya Kopps, CEO, Metro Italy
21. Erik Pekkeriet, Senior Business Development Manager Agro Food Robotics, Wageningen University & Research
22. Susanne Palsten Buchardt, Vice President, Animal Health & Nutrition, Novozymes
23. Caroline Creven Fourrier, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Syngenta
24. Susanne Kirwan, Product Manager, Kemin
25. Lyndsay Chapman, CEO, Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock
26. Angelique Slach, COO, Natwest Markets
27. Saskia Korink, Global Innovation Director, Trouw Nutrition
28. Amy Cornell, President, Agribusiness Council of Indiana
29. Jackie Applegate, President, Global Vegetable Seeds & Environmental Science, Bayer
30. Margot Slattery, Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Sodexo Group
31. Martha Montoya, President, AgTools
32. Claudia Roessler, Director Agriculture, Microsoft
33. Elena Sgaravatti, CEO, Demethra Biotech
34. Rohini Seth, HR Director, Diageo
35. Lotta Folkesson, Chairwoman of Copa’s Women Committee and Board Director, LRF (Federationof Swedish Farmers)
36. Carla Hilhorst, Carla has a accountVice President R&D Foods, Unilever
37. Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, Founder, The Fork
38. Guillaume Smeets, Global Lead, Commercial Excellence, Animal Nutrition & Health, Cargill
39. Dame Fiona Kendrick, Formerly Chairwoman and CEO, Nestle UK and Ireland
40. Florence Chenoweth, Formerly Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Liberia
41. Sarah Mukherjee, CEO, Crop Protection Association
42. Giorgiana Pospescu, HR Director for Industrial Operations & Corporate Functions, Bunge
43. Lizelle Alberts, Founder, FRUTEM
44. Mark Lyons, President & CEO, ALLTECH
45. Teresa Wickham
46. Megan DeYoung, Strategic Partnerships, AEROFARMS
47. Simone Barg, Vice President, Global Communications Agricultural Solutions, BASF
48. Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director, Climate Change, Forestry Commission, ACCRA, Ghana
49. Alwena Hughes Moakes, Global Head of Communications, SYNGENTA
50. Helene Ziv, Director of Risk Management and Sourcing, Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Business
51. Mayka van Acht, Vice President HR EMEAI, ADM
52. Tina Hunt, General Manager, Elanco UK and Ireland
53. Natalie McCaffery, Student
54. Anna Osann, Founding Partner and Innovation Director, AgriSat Iberia
55. Bettina Bock, Professor, Wageningen University & Research and Groningen University
56. Margreet van der Burg, Senior University Lecturer and Researcher, Wageningen University
57. Sheena Howden, Lantra Scotland Project Manager
58. Karen Karp, President, KK&P
59. Clementine Schouteden,Lead of Cities & Circular Economy for Food, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
60. Lynda McDonald, Senior Executive, DeLaval International
61. Lena Johansson, VP, IFAJ
62. Willemien Koning, Chair LTO Women and Business (Dutch Women Farmers)
63. Jacqueline Pieters, Global Head of banking for Food Inspirational Center, Rabobank
64. Rachel Kopay, Senior Associate, The Context Network
65. Erin Boyd Kappelhof, Managing Partner, Eat Well Global
66. Mariana Vasconcelos, CEO, Agrosmart
67. Jane Craigie, Founder, Jane Craigie Marketing; Chair and Executive Board Member, IFAJ and Trustee, LANTRA

Anne-Kristine Oen
CEO, Salmon Group

Lori Stevermer, Marketing Manager for Hubbard Feeds, part of Alltech’s feed division

Growing up on her family farm in Minnesota, Lori Stevermer was destined to make a difference both on and off the farm. From her childhood involvement in the local 4H to working at a feed company after college and meeting her husband (a fellow hog farmer)—agriculture is in her blood.

“I often get asked, ‘how long have you been doing it?’ I just kind of say, ‘forever.’ It’s just my life, it’s what I do so it seems very natural.”

Now, Lori is the marketing manager for Hubbard Feeds, part of Alltech’s feed division. She has worked in the feed industry for over 30 years, and attributes her career path largely to her upbringing. However, with only 2% of the population actively involved in agriculture, Lori says the pool of talent coming into the industry can and should come from all types of backgrounds. A point she makes when presenting at schools and speaking to young kids about careers in ag—highlighting technology, engineering, science, and some other aspects of agriculture that aren’t always known to those unfamiliar with the business.

“When you look at the expanded agribusiness, we need those bright minds and people that are willing to ask questions and work—and they can come from anywhere. So, I think just letting people know that you don’t have to be from a farm to be in agriculture, that’s a big message that we need to get out there.”

And a big part of that talent pool needs to include women. “I think there’s opportunity everywhere within agriculture.” Both on the farm and off the farm—there are no limitations.

“We [women] do bring a different perspective. We view situations differently; we tend to be more collaborative in the way we approach things. We need our type of skill sets and our type of problem-solving abilities in agriculture. It just makes agriculture better.”

“I think back to when I first started in the feed business and there weren’t too many of us female sales representatives so certainly as more of us get involved with the industry, I think that’s more encouraging.”

Lori is a former president of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association and is a current board member of the National Pork Producers Council, which she says was a natural progression in her career and has helped her in her commitment to serving the industry that she grew up in. It’s also a place to meet knowledgeable individuals that share the same passion.

“That really encourages me and inspires me to do better and to be involved. That would be my word of advice or encouragement to others, to get involved, because I think the saying is the world is run by those who show up. So, if you feel strongly about something, show up and get involved.”

And not only is her presence on the board enhancing the industry, but it’s also paving the way for younger women.

“What was interesting was when I got on the NPPC board, I had a couple of younger ladies come up to me and tell me they were so glad to see another woman on the board. I hadn’t really thought about that—it wasn’t why I ran. I ran because I love the industry and I love to get involved but having them make those comments to me was very humbling.”

As they say, empowered women empower women.

“You walk down that path and make that path a little bit bigger for the next person. Everybody just follows along and it becomes maybe a little less rocky. Although it’s never going to be perfect, but it’s just a more comfortable path. There’s more of  you walking and you feel more comfortable there.”

Quite simply, women play an important role in agriculture. “The encouraging thing is that we continue to see more women involved in agriculture.”

More than 50% of all U.S agriculture students are women.  And as their careers progress, they’ll be involved in more management positions and leading those companies. That will change agriculture because it will make it more inclusive.”

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] – In closing ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, shared his new vision for the company and invited the ONE conference’s more than 3,500 attendees to join in “Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Thirty years ago, his father, Alltech’s founder Dr. Pearse Lyons, took the stage at the same conference. He had committed Alltech to a guiding ACE principle, emphasizing the importance of delivering benefit to animals, consumers and the environment. He fervently believed that the well-being of each depended on maintaining harmony between all three. It was a radical idea at the time — so radical, that some customers walked out of the conference.

Yet, against a backdrop of diminishing natural resources, a changing climate and a growing population, sustainability is quickly becoming a non-negotiable for businesses and for agriculture. Every business and individual has a role to play, moving us closer to a planet of peril or of plenty.

“With the adoption of new technologies and management practices, and, most of all, human ingenuity, we believe a Planet of Plenty is possible,” said Lyons. “Our Planet of Plenty vision propels our founding ACE principle into a new world of possibility, where anyone and everyone can make a positive impact on our shared planet.”

Agriculture has frequently become the scapegoat for climate change. Yet, no other industry has the potential to have a more positive impact on the Earth than the original stewards of the land.

“Agriculture is the only industry that can sequester carbon through its primary mission,” said David Butler, Alltech sustainability manager. “There are several low-tech management practices and high-tech innovations that can put carbon back into soils and forests and produce more food in the process.”

A new website, PlanetofPlenty.com, provides examples of agricultural methods that can improve the environment as well as inspiring stories of the people and technologies making a planet of plenty possible.

“From the Israeli lawyer who is using CRISPR to solve one of poultry’s biggest challenges to the Irish entrepreneur reducing spray drift through magnetic technology, there are compelling stories of people who are discovering new approaches and developing technologies that shape a more positive future,” said Orla McAleer, chief marketing officer for Alltech. “As we tell their stories, we want to encourage greater adoption of sustainable practices, but, most of all, we hope to inspire more ingenuity and a collaborative spirit.”

Stories can be shared on the Planet of Plenty website or on social media with the hashtag #PlanetofPlenty. Alltech will also be recognizing farmers, students, entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits and communities that are putting the power of agriculture to work to create a Planet of Plenty.

“To create a more abundant world, we must collaborate across industries and geographies, and discover, test and apply new ideas,” said Dr. Lyons. “Our personal journeys will be unique and diverse, but if we work together, our destination can be the same: a Planet of Plenty in which there is enough nutritious food for all, the world’s resources are responsibly managed for future generations and the environment is safe for people, animals and plants to thrive in harmony.”

Watch the story of one dairy farmer using methane digesters to turn dairy cows’ waste into electricity here

Tina Hunt is General Manager for Elanco Animal Health UK and Ireland. She is passionate about the wellbeing of animals, people and the planet. This year, she’s getting involved with the Women in Food and Agriculture initiative. We caught up with her to get her thoughts on the industry and the upcoming event.

Q: Tell us about yourself and your role with Elanco Animal Health.

I started my career as a veterinary surgeon and after 10 years in farm and equine practice I moved into the animal health industry. I have subsequently held a number of local, regional and global commercial roles, based in the UK, the US and Canada.  Currently I am General Manager for Elanco Animal Health UK/Ireland which manufactures and commercialises products to prevent and treat disease in pets, farm animals and fish.

Q: At the WFA Summit this year, you are participating in the panel discussion on female leaders in agribusiness. What has been your experience in developing and encouraging female employees to pursue leadership roles and what advice would you have for organizations to help them foster growth and diversity?

During my time as a farm and equine vet, and when I first started in industry, there were not many female leadership role models. I see that as a very important part of my career – to show other females that it can be done. I am very open with my team about the challenges of working full time with young children and a spouse who also has a career, and really encourage that free discussion. I believe that organisations need to be as flexible and receptive to new ideas as possible for both men and women to make dual careers work with family life. This is not just a gender issue; to create a diverse and inclusive workforce we need to develop new ways of working that enables everyone to get involved and be engaged.

Q: What are the top challenges you see for those looking to make a career in this business? Do you think that there are challenges specific to women working in what many consider to be a male-dominated agriculture industry?

The top challenges I see for those looking to make a career in this business are a) Exponential rate of change; people need to be comfortable working in that environment b) Consolidation and globalization leading to increased competitiveness at every level (retail, agriculture, suppliers) with resulting pressures and c) This business has many truly passionate individuals so to influence others you need to be prepared to speak up and demonstrate leadership at all levels.

Round the business table I see no challenges specific to women working in the agriculture industry. However, I am often the only woman around a dinner table when the social conversation can be based on topics where I have little interest eg. Some sports, certain TV shows, etc. Do men reflect on what it might be like to go out for dinner with 7 business women?

Q: Our research shows that at boardroom level there is an under representation of women on company boards. In your view, are policies focused on improving the gender balance at leadership level too limiting? How can we ensure that they open doors to broader workplace diversity?

There is an under representation of women on company boards across all industries – this is not specific to agriculture. I don’t think that the policies focused on improving gender balance are too limiting. The gender imbalance is improving over time and we have more women CEOs than ever before. I just think that a cultural and social change like this takes time as women need to step up, and organisations need to enable and support that.

Q: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industry going forward?

• How do we support the production of enough safe affordable food? Exponential population and economic growth over the last 50 years is set to continue with the global population expected to hit 8 billion in 2024. This will result in a continuing increase in the demand for meat, milk and eggs with estimates suggesting we will need 50% more than today by 2050. How do we enable this when according to the WWF, today the Earth takes 1.5 years to regenerate the resources we use in just one year?
• Responsible use of antibiotics. The concern about reduced effectiveness of antibiotics is real and must be addressed. Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally over time. All those involved – the human, animal and environmental health communities – must take responsibility and work together to develop long-term, responsible solutions.

It is important that we all are committed to bringing greater clarity and collaboration to issues around antibiotic stewardship. Elanco is actively engaged in shaping science-based recommendations on responsible antibiotic use, animal welfare, and the long-term sustainability of the food system.

Q: Where do you think opportunities exist for women seeking a career in food and agriculture today?

I think there are more opportunities for women seeking a career in food and agriculture today than ever before. With demand for food increasing and resources depleting we need to have as diverse a group looking at these challenges as possible.

Q: Lastly, you are sponsoring the upcoming WFA summit, what does this initiative mean to you and why do you think it’s timely and important?

I think that now we must all work together across geographies, genders, roles, industries to come up with solutions to the food and agricultural challenges that we face. To create the right future, women need to have a seat at the table. If this summit encourages one more woman to step up, it will have helped ensure our success.

As the Ellen MacArthur Foundation puts it, a circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Doing so will involve shifting the system, involving everyone and everything: businesses, governments, and us as individuals; our cities, our products, and our jobs. A circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It is also a huge opportunity for women to be a central part of the shift.

With the Women in Food & Agriculture Summit  only weeks away (December 3 – 4 at the NH Grand Hotel, Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam), we spoke to Kimberley Chan who is ‘Global Lead – Circular Economy’ at DSM.

Ms. Chan has been helping DSM shape its circularity agenda to improve operational footprint, enable more sustainable and circular solutions within its business groups, and advocate for the transition to a circular economy.

Ms. Chan, why is gender equality important for the circular economy?

Gender equality is vital for sustainable development. We can only call ourselves successful with the reaching of all of the sustainable development goals, which includes SDG 5 on gender equality, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption & production (which relates to the circular economy). The transition from a linear to a circular economy needs to be inclusive and collaborative in all its aspects and with the participation of both genders.

Women around the world tend to be at the centre of households and communities, and there is a trend in the growing number of female entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries, through micro-financing. Women tend to be more caring and receptive to circular behaviours, such as reuse, repair and simply prolonging the use of an item for as long as possible. Thus, gender equality and greater participation of women in economic development is important for circularity, because women can drive responsible consumption and production behaviours through role modelling and cultivating a culture for circularity at the many levels women participate in daily life.

What is the role of women in the circular economy? How do you live the circular economy yourself?

A circular economy is only possible with systemic change across the board – in government policies, in the way companies source and use raw materials, in the design of new products and solutions, enabling infrastructure for collection and recycling, education, changing consumer behaviours… Women have a role to play in this system change in all these stages – across value chains and sectors, and to introduce more sustainable business practices that tie in well with profit and positive social impact.

Living the circular economy is about making better choices – for yourself, as well as for the earth. I recently read a line which really resonated: “The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth”. This is a kind reminder that we come from the earth and are completely dependent on it for the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat. Our actions benefit both the planet and ultimately us. When we think that the planet belongs to us, we treat it as if it were a disposable commodity.

I live the circular economy by being conscious of my own purchasing power. It can be as simple as sharing instead of owning, where possible. Buying ‘slow fashion’, instead of fast fashion through more timeless designs and higher quality pieces that inevitably last longer. Staying up-to-date with new technology platforms and innovations which help us save and share resources (for example, the TooGoodToGo app which aims to fight food waste in cities and car sharing through Via Van). It is also about advocacy, sharing knowledge, and trying to effect change within your sphere of influence no matter how small or big you think that is.

At DSM, since 2017, you have been in charge of leading the company’s circular economy agenda and related stakeholder engagement. What progress have you witnessed in the past two years?

Externally, circular economy as a topic has become more visible on the global agenda. DSM joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 program since its formation five years ago, and we are proud to still be a member of this organisation that put the concept of circular economy on the world map. In the last two years, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and World Economic Forum have also created platforms for the business community to collaborate to accelerate the transition. All of these international organisations are working hard to make the circular economy a reality by encouraging public-private partnerships and action. We also now see governments and cities making ambitious roadmaps towards circularity (for e.g., the Netherlands have a plan to become circular by 2050). This is obviously very impactful, as it is predicted two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 and is where drastic changes are needed most. In addition, what has been most impressive to witness is how resilient, resourceful and creative humans can be. In my role, I get to learn about new innovations and solutions that embrace circularity concepts. For example, Orange Fiber (founded by female entrepreneurs) creates fabrics from citrus juice by-products that would otherwise be thrown away; and gDiapers have redesigned diapers with compostable inserts to address the waste problem of single-use diapers (diapers are the 3rd largest consumer item in landfills).

Internally, I have seen DSM’s businesses become more engaged in circularity. For example, our materials business groups are now making clear ambitions on sourcing bio-based and recycle-based raw materials and working with partners on recycling initiatives for DSM’s end products. Our nutrition business groups are also embracing circularity concepts by using bio-sources, and valorising waste streams. DSM is also one of the founding members of the Farmers for Generations consortium. This group of industry stakeholders and academics aims to develop on the ground solutions for improving soil health through regenerative practices, and resource efficiency together with farmers, and for farmers.

DSM talks about embedding circular & bio-based thinking into sourcing, operations, innovation and portfolio, and enabling ‘closed loop’ solutions through advocacy and partnerships. Can you provide a few recent examples of these DSM “closed loop” solutions that apply to food and agriculture?

Aquaculture is a key source of animal protein, but its growth is highly dependent on finite marine resources. One of our closed loop solutions, Veramaris reduces our reliance on marine resources for fish feed. Veramaris is a joint venture of DSM and Evonik – an example where DSM has partnered with another company to make full use of complementary capabilities to develop an innovation that helps set new standards for sustainable food production. Veramaris produces omega-3 fatty acids for animal nutrition from marine microalgae. The algal oil, a breakthrough innovation, helps conserve the natural biodiversity of our oceans by replacing fish oil omega-3 fatty acids derived from wild-caught fish which is used for the aquaculture industry. One ton of Veramaris replaces 60 ton of wild catch, and the Veramaris capacity will replace the equivalent of 1.2 million tons of wild catch. This “closed loop” solution from regenerative bio-sources (as opposed to finite marine resources) helps to reduce dependence on over-exploited fisheries, while at the same time enabling the aquaculture industry grow and omega-3 levels in fish to be increased.

Another closed loop solution DSM has in our portfolio is that of natural bio-preservatives, which are solutions to naturally extend the shelf life of food. With food loss and waste being a huge resource issue (one-third of all food produced globally is wasted), customers are looking for natural ways to extend shelf life. DSM’s portfolio includes solutions for the preservation of cheese, yoghurt, baked goods and beverages, which leverages our deep microbiology and fermentation expertise. In animal nutrition and health, we apply our knowledge and solutions of optimum vitamin nutrition with the feed and farming industry to enable them to produce quality food. For example, our vitamin solutions help reduce the oxidation of meat, a common issue that leads to discoloration and off flavours, real concerns for the consumer, and often leading to meat being discarded which is otherwise still fit for consumption. Through this approach, we extend the shelf life of fresh meat by up to 6 days and that of frozen meat by up to three months.

What have you set yourself as priorities with regard to the circular economy agenda in the coming few years?

Focusing on the efficient use of Resources & Circularity is a core part of DSM’s purpose and sustainability strategy (alongside a focus on Nutrition & Health and Climate & Renewable Energy). We are excited to be part of the acceleration towards a circular economy with our innovations and solutions. However, we don’t want the circular economy to be just another sustainability buzz word. It is important for us to show a positive contribution and impact. Thus, at DSM, we have set a priority to measure how circular we are – in our own operations, as well as in our portfolio of solutions. Without knowing where we are, it is difficult to know where we can improve on resource efficiency. On measurement and metrics, we are collaborating with other companies through the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, to create a set of circular metrics (Circularity Transition Indicators) which companies can use to measure circularity on a company-level. The framework will be finalised and launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2020. We already measure the environmental and social impact of our products through DSM’s Brighter Living Solutions program, and we aim to better understand our portfolio of solutions through the lens of circularity as well, to help drive future improvements.

Another priority is to support our business groups to scale up and bring greater market acceptance to DSM’s circular solutions. By linking our businesses with the right stakeholder groups and partners, we can make our circular dreams a reality. We have the brains and innovation, but much work is needed to change the whole system through partnerships and collaboration.

When it comes to the food system, we also need to build a better circular economy. Our priorities in the coming years will be to contribute to the redesign of the food system with our innovations. Priorities include sourcing bio-based raw materials, addressing food loss and waste, helping to ensure food by-products are used at their highest value, and contributing to healthier food products.

Kimberley Chan
Global Lead – Circular Economy

As the world gears up to feed 9 billion people by 2050, ways to produce more with less are being explored. But a paradigm shift will be required if the industry is to achieve its goals, according to Dr Anna Osann, of AgriSat Iberia S.L.

 Dr Anna Osann is an expert in bringing operational applications of space technology into the hands of users in the agriculture sector. She is the co-founder and Innovation Director of AgriSat Iberia S.L. a Spanish SME operating globally, providing tools and services that help the farm sector optimise nutrient and water management by integrating agronomic knowledge with leading-edge technology. As an honorary fellow at Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Dr Osann has also co-ordinated a series of EU-funded projects (e.g. FATIMA, SIRIUS, PLEIADeS) on sustainable agriculture and water management over the last 15 years. She is currently participating in several H2020 projects in the same area.

With the Summit (https://www.wfasummit.com) only a month away (December 3 – 4 at the NH Grand Hotel, Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam), we discussed some of the key WFA-related themes with Dr. Anna Osann who will be speaking at the WFA Summit.

Dr Anna Osann, what drew you to the agriculture industry?

I’ve always wanted to do something useful for people and planet. Food and agriculture is one of the very basics of human life and my broad skillset (from science-technology to stakeholder community practice) was an asset in this field.

I also have roots in my mother’s line that comes from a farming background.

What inspired you to bring and connect operational applications of space technology into the hands of users in the agriculture sector?

No field of crops is equal to another, there is huge variability within parcels and between parcels and crops are growing at different rates.  Space technology, or more specifically Earth Observation satellites provide us with ‘eyes from the sky’ that can monitor and map this variability over time. This opens up the path to advanced precision farming, giving each plant exactly the nutrients and water that it needs, at the right moment. Farmers can access this technology on their mobile phones and become more profitable and environmentally friendly.

What are the main challenges affecting agriculture from your point of view?

A paradox: Farmers are the ones who provide our food, but on the other hand are not held in high respect by society. In the EU, rural areas have lost and are losing population at an accelerated rate. The gap between large industrial farms and small/family farms is widening.

On the other hand, there is a need to feed the growing world population. Ways of sustainable intensification of food production are being explored and will require a paradigm shift in agriculture, less resource-intensive and less contaminating.

What needs to be done to achieve sustainable agriculture? How can we leverage technology and help the farm sector optimise nutrient and water management by integrating agronomic knowledge with leading-edge technology?

Technology is both an entry point and a tool provider for the first steps towards sustainable agriculture. I mean ‘entry point’ as a two-way door, for tech companies into the farming communities and for farmers into the tech world. ‘Tool provider’ in the sense that it helps farmers optimise inputs in the short term (a growing season).

In the long term, we need a paradigm shift, e.g. transform to production systems that regenerate the soil, production systems that offer real (economic, social, environmental) benefits to farmers and the rural environment. This means transcending the current narrative (‘intensive industrial agriculture is needed to feed the 10 billions’), going from ‘sustainable agriculture’ to ‘regenerative agriculture’. At the present state of deterioration of soils, water, environment, we need to regenerate (i.e., make them healthy again) before we can sustain.

In your view, what are the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry? Have you seen a lot of change for women in the industry since joining?

In the early years of my career, several decades ago, a woman had to be at least twice as excellent as a man in order to be accepted as a peer. Things have changed a lot, more women have entered the industry, which in turn has led even more women to enter. The playing field is still not level though and the upper ranks are still highly male-dominated. Challenges for women are found in a wide range, from pay-gaps, to (overtly or hidden) sexist workplace cultures, to a lack of flexible hours for childcare, just to name a few.

How can we inspire the future of women and diversity in our industry? How can we improve workplace culture for better employee retention?

Examples of successful women and other minorities are the best way to inspire others.

Employees need to feel respected and honoured for their work, their skills, and for who they are. A controlling environment will repel them, a supportive workplace culture will attract them.

How do you become a successful woman in the farming sector? Where do you think there are opportunities for women in the sector? 

Being successful in any sector requires mastering the inner game as well as the outer game. Women have increasingly reached excellence in the outer game (professional expertise, experience, titles), but they still often get stuck in self-sabotaging thought patterns. Continuous personal development work is crucial to reverse that conditioning and to open the path to true success.

There are plenty of opportunities for women everywhere in the sector. More importantly, the sector needs successful women at all levels (up to the top) in order to transform itself for a sustainable future.

Dr Anna Osann
Co-founder and Innovation Director of AgriSat Iberia S.L