The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has honoured 100 women for their contributions to food systems and rural development, recognising work spanning food production, scientific research, natural resource protection and community leadership. According to FAO Newsroom, the awards were presented at the organisation’s headquarters in Rome as part of the World Food Forum 2026.
FAO launched the initiative to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. The ceremony also coincided with the International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on 15 October to acknowledge rural women’s contributions to agriculture, food security and efforts to eliminate rural poverty. The World Food Forum concludes with World Food Day on 16 October.
China’s Yin Yuzhen was named as the final honouree during the event, following the announcement of the other 99 women in the preceding days. FAO Newsroom said her decades of work tackling land degradation in China’s Mu Us Sandy Land had contributed to restoring nearly 5,000 hectares around her home and planting more than eight million trees across the area. Her efforts began with tree planting on land exposed to desertification and have helped sustain agriculture, livelihoods and nearby communities.
Opening the ceremony, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the women’s roles in conserving biodiversity, encouraging innovation, passing on knowledge and building resilience against hunger, poverty and climate change. He also recalled growing up in a Chinese village, where his grandmother taught him farming and cooking skills, using that experience to emphasise the importance of knowledge transmitted between generations.
The selection followed 609 nominations submitted by 131 FAO Members, with national nomination allowances based on population size. Submissions were checked against eligibility requirements and country quotas before senior management assessed and ranked candidates. Shortlisted nominees then underwent two additional rounds of senior leadership review, considering quality, balance and representation. FAO’s Senior Leadership Committee approved the final group, which includes women working across different regions, occupations and rural communities.