As climate change and population growth, among other things, put future global food security at risk, the world faces a daunting challenge of finding innovative and sustainable solutions to produce more food under increasingly unfavorable conditions. The Green Revolution offers some lessons on how humanity should overcome this predicament. One important lesson is that agricultural research and development are key to solving a potential global food crisis. The world needs a new Agriculture and Agri-business Revolution, but one that is more resource-efficient and gender-responsive as today challenges and realities are different. One way to bring about a new wave of much-needed research and innovation is to involve more women scientists in agricultural research as their potential has not been tapped fully yet.

Studies show that a larger number of women within teams is positively linked with higher levels of innovative thinking, creativity and productivity, ultimately increasing the likelihood of success. One large-scale, multi-country study found that gender-balanced teams are the most likely to experiment, be creative, share knowledge and fulfill tasks. According to this study, the most confident teams had a slight majority of women (60%). Research also shows that the more women there are in senior management, particularly within organizations that are focused on innovation, the better the organizations perform.

The agricultural sector is currently not enjoying the benefits that higher levels of female engagement in research would bring. While women make up more than 40% of the workforce in countries where agriculture is a key contributor to GDP, they do not enjoy the same level of access to training, agricultural inputs and land as men do.

There is also a disproportionately low number of women working in senior scientific and managerial positions This gender gap is most visible in the staffing of agricultural research and extension organizations. As a result, policy and investment priorities may not be fully effective because they do not completely incorporate gender perspectives. Given women's role in agricultural production and consumption, potential benefits are being lost when they are needed most.

This is why it is important to invest more in building capacities of women scientists working in the agricultural research and development sector, especially in countries where food security is more vulnerable to climate change. Two programs to this effect that merit special mention are the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and the Young Arab Women Scientists Leadership (Tamkeen) program in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa respectively. Both focus on empowering women in science through tailored fellowships and will be discussed in more detail in the presentation.