On the occasion of the 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels published a feature article based on interviews with five representatives from leading organizations working at the intersection of gender equality, STEM, and agrifood systems.
The 2026 theme, “From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap”, highlights the urgent need to translate commitments into concrete actions that empower women and girls in scientific fields.
Within this framework, EPWS President Lucia Martinelli, a biologist with a distinguished career in plant genetics, was invited to contribute to the interview, sharing her perspective on how women in STEM can help close the gender gap in agrifood systems through research, innovation, and leadership.
Her contribution reflects EPWS’s ongoing commitment to promoting women’s participation in science and strengthening the role of gender equality in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive agrifood future.