Nutrition: HarvestPlus Webinar Champions Women-led Food Systems Transformation

In a bold push to transform food systems and tackle hidden hunger, HarvestPlus has hosted a groundbreaking webinar on “Climate and Nutrition: Smart Interventions that Involve Women and Girls as Agents of Change” on March 13, 2025.

The event brought together experts, policymakers, and grassroots advocates to explore how women can drive solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity through biofortification and climate-smart agriculture.

The conversation was framed by a striking statistic from The Lancet Global Health: 69% of non-pregnant women aged 15-49 suffer from deficiencies in iron, zinc, or folate—a reality that underscores the urgent need for sustainable nutrition-focused interventions.

Muadi Mukenge, an International Development Expert and Women Rights Leader, opened the session with a powerful call to action, emphasising that women are not just beneficiaries of food system interventions—they are critical agents of change. She highlighted HarvestPlus’ long-standing work in developing biofortified staple crops that are climate-resilient and nutritionally enriched, ensuring that smallholder farmers, especially women, have access to healthier food options.

Maggie Biruri, Head of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation at HarvestPlus, traced the journey of biofortification, an innovation that has revolutionized agriculture by increasing the micronutrient content of staple foods. “What if we could breed common crops to contain higher levels of nutrients?” she recalled, referencing the question that sparked this movement years ago. Today, HarvestPlus has developed over 450 biofortified crop varieties, reaching more than 330 million people worldwide.

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Dr. Azra Adibaba, a public health specialist with World Vision Canada, shed light on how the partnership between HarvestPlus and Global Affairs Canada was tackling micronutrient deficiencies in women and children. She called for the integration of biofortification into maternal and child nutrition programs, reinforcing that health systems must prioritize gender-inclusive approaches to combat hidden hunger effectively.

Panina Muoki, Country Manager for HarvestPlus Kenya, provided real-world insights from East Africa, where female farmers are at the forefront of adopting iron-rich beans, vitamin A maize, and orange sweet potatoes. “When women farmers are equipped with the right knowledge and resources, they don’t just feed their families—they transform entire communities,” she stated.

Rewa Misra, Head of National Policy and Innovative Financing at HarvestPlus, highlighted the role of governments and financial institutions in scaling up biofortification. “Investing in women-led agribusinesses is not just a social responsibility—it’s smart economics,” she asserted, urging policymakers to ensure that women farmers have equal access to credit, land, and market opportunities.

Beyond policy discussions, the webinar showcased practical solutions for empowering women in agriculture. Participants learned about mobile money systems that enable female farmers to sell their produce in formal markets, and innovative agribusinesses like Baitani Agrovet in Kenya and AFCO in Tanzania, which promote nutritious crops while supporting women entrepreneurs.

Additionally, the session addressed key structural barriers, including limited land ownership and restricted access to finance. Speakers emphasized the importance of investment-readiness training, savings initiatives for agricultural inputs, and inclusive financial models that help rural women scale their businesses.

As the session drew to a close, the speakers left participants with a compelling question: How can you plug into this movement to fight hidden hunger?

The message was clear—women are the backbone of food security, and empowering them is essential to achieving sustainable nutrition goals. From integrating biofortified crops into public health programs to creating inclusive agricultural policies, there is an urgent need for collective action at all levels.

HarvestPlus reaffirmed its commitment to driving this change, ensuring that biofortification remains a key pillar of global nutrition and climate resilience efforts.