Gender and Social Inclusion Matter for Agrobiodiversity

When people think about agrobiodiversity, they often imagine seed banks, crop trials, or ecosystem services. But behind every saved seed and managed landscape are people–often Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers, and the women who are part of local communities, whose knowledge, labor, and leadership sustain this agricultural diversity.

On May 21, 2025, Dr Marlène Elias (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT) and Ms Amelia Arreguín Prado (Women’s Caucus of the Convention on Biological Diversity) moderated a compelling session titled ‘Agrobiodiversity for Gender and Social Inclusion’ at the 3rd International Agrobiodiversity Congress in Kunming, China. Far from a side conversation, this session – which was opened by Dr Rui Shui (Southwest Forestry University) and Ms Gu Fan (Representative of the Bulang people from Pu’er) – made the case that gender and social equity are core to the future of agrobiodiversity. The room was packed with participants, including many university students, whose questions pointed to a rising generation seeking change.