On February 11th, the Odisee University of Applied Sciences and Women in Ag Magazine are hosting the symposium “Rooted in resilience: Women in Agriculture”. This event will take place on the campus of the Odisee University of Applied Sciences in Sint-Niklaas. The event will be hosted in Dutch.
2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the United Nations. This initiative aims to draw attention to the crucial role of women in agriculture and their role in a sustainable food production. For centuries, women have been a driving force for agriculture and food security, but their efforts often remain invisible.
At the same time, the global agricultural sector is under severe pressure from climate change, economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. Women play a key role in the fields as well as in policy, research and innovation. Yet too often they still face structural obstacles, such as limited access to land, financing and training.
With this symposium, Odisee University of Applied Sciences and Women in Ag Magazine want to make these challenges visible and create space for dialogue, knowledge sharing and inspiration. The goal is to contribute to a future in which gender equality in agriculture is no longer the exception, but the norm. The fact that Odisee welcomed an all-female Agriculture student body in the 2025-2026 academic year highlights that ambition and makes the University a logical and strong host for this event.
Program in a nutshell
After an opening speech and keynote (speaker to be announced soon), two panel discussions will follow:
- “Women in Agriculture around the world ” – a look at international challenges and opportunities. For this panel discussion, Solidagro will bring some stories from women in agriculture around the world. This will be followed by a panel discussion with, among others, Corazon De Raeymaecker (ex-model, now CSA farmer at Grondsmaak), Justine Poppe (International representative of the Flemish organisation Groene Kring), Greet Riebels of ILVO (Flemish institute for fisheries and agriculture) and Helma Vermuë (dairy farmer in North Holland, chairwoman of Vrouw & Bedrijf and LTO delegation in the Copa Cogeca womens committee)
- “Women’s role in agriculture across generations ” – how tradition meets innovation.
The panel for this discussion will be formed by farm women of different ages, including Vanessa Serlet (Chairwoman VABS) and Jana Thierens (agribusiness volunteer FERM and former Odisee student)
The symposium is aimed at (former) students, industry professionals, policy makers, interested parties and press. The language of the event is Dutch. Participation is free, but registration is required. You can register at https://www.odisee.be/vrouwen-in-de-landbouw
More than a symposium
In addition to inspiring talks, the event also offers a unique networking opportunity. During the closing drink, participants can exchange ideas, make new contacts and reflect together on how to empower women in agriculture – in Belgium, Europe and worldwide.
