Keynote Presenter Abstracts

Dr. Jemimah Njuki - Towards a Gender transformative research agenda in food systems

Within agriculture and food systems research, gender analytical frameworks have been instrumental in understanding key aspects of gender inequality including differences in access to resources, the gender division of labor, and even gaps in agriculture productivity. They have aided in the development of programs that seek to close these gender gaps. A key shortcoming however has been that these tools and framework have fallen short in terms of understanding and addressing the underlying causes of gender inequality. In this presentation, I talk about three key elements that we need to consider in gender and food systems research to addresses these gaps. The first is the need to use gender transformative approaches that focus on the formal and inform, the individual and the systemic causes of inequality and to do this at multiple levels -individual, interpersonal, organizational, community and public policy. Second to conceptualize and measure empowerment in a meaningful way, beyond reaching and benefiting women and finally, to take an intersectional approach in the way we address gender inequality, understanding that multiple identities can lead to overlapping or compounding marginalization and identities. The presentation concludes with some reflection on how we can do this in a practical way within food systems research.

Dr. Carolyn Sachs - Feminist Food Justice: Overcoming Intersectional Inequities in U.S. and International Food Systems

Feminist food justice provides a conceptual framework for linking gender and agriculture researchers and practitioners in the U.S. and internationally. Feminist food justice builds on the food sovereignty and food justice movements and aims to overcome intersectional inequities in the food system. This framework emphasizes three strategies including: supporting food production at multiple scales, revaluing food work that feeds families, and providing good food for all. I will then discuss how lessons learned about gender, food, and agriculture during the global coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. and internationally provide new insights and strategies for overcoming intersectional inequalities in our food systems