Women now make up about 60% of applicants to agricultural graduate and postgraduate programmes, says Seed & Grain New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Sarah Clark, pointing to a shift coming through the sector.

Clark, speaking from the Women in Seed Conference in Christchurch, says women’s participation across agriculture sits at about 30% based on MPI statistics.

“Women dominate the science roles and the service roles,” she says.

“During the morning tea break, I sat with a group of young women, and they were all doing the agronomist-type role, so there’s definitely a strong pipeline coming through.”

She says that despite this, a gender gap remains in governance and senior roles. Until 2018, the governance of Seed & Grain NZ had been led entirely by men.

“We had our first woman representative on the board,” she says, “and during her time, Seed and Grain NZ started some initiatives, such as associate counselors on our board.”

The counselor role gives young people aspiring to leadership a chance to observe and participate in board proceedings regardless of gender, and this year that position went to a young woman, Clark says.

Seed & Grain NZ has also launched ‘Young Radicles’, a group for members under 35.

“The organising committee has two young women on it, so it’s another opportunity for them to provide some leadership.”

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*Correction from earlier version, 30% women’s participation in agriculture was attributed to MBIE, and should say MPI.