In the heart of Bangladesh’s Kishoreganj district, a climate hotspot, a groundbreaking study is challenging long-held norms and reshaping the future of agrifood systems. Led by Sadika Akhter, a researcher from Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development in Melbourne, Australia, the study delves into the intricate web of gender equality, resource access, and climate adaptation in agriculture.
The research, published in the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, examines two interventions designed to tackle structural barriers to gender equality. The first, ECATTO, focused on dismantling discriminatory norms and attitudes related to gender-based violence, while the second, SHOUHARDO III, aimed to level the playing field by addressing gender-unequal access to resources and extension services for agriculture and livestock.
Akhter and her team collected gender-disaggregated intrahousehold data from treatment and control populations in March 2023, using propensity score matching as a quasi-experimental identification method. The findings are compelling. “Challenging structural barriers to gender equality associated with discriminatory gender norms and attitudes and enhancing gender-equal access to resources and extension services support women’s empowerment in climate-affected agrifood systems,” Akhter asserts.
The study reveals that enhancing gender-equal access to resources and extension services leads to more gender-equal adoption of climate-smart agricultural and livestock practices. This is a significant finding, as it suggests a promising avenue to simultaneously improve gender equality and climate-adaptive capacity. Moreover, challenging discriminatory norms and attitudes improved women’s diet diversity, highlighting the interconnected nature of these issues.
For the energy sector, these findings hold substantial implications. As agrifood systems become more climate-smart, the demand for sustainable energy solutions will likely increase. This could open up new markets for renewable energy technologies, such as solar-powered irrigation systems or biogas plants. Furthermore, empowering women in agriculture can lead to more efficient use of resources, potentially reducing the energy footprint of agrifood systems.
The study also underscores the importance of addressing gender norms and resource access in climate adaptation strategies. As climate change continues to impact agrifood systems, it is crucial to ensure that these systems are not only resilient but also equitable. This means investing in women’s empowerment and challenging discriminatory norms and attitudes.
Looking ahead, this research could shape future developments in the field by informing policy and practice. It provides a strong case for integrating gender equality into climate adaptation strategies and highlights the need for more gender-disaggregated data in agrifood systems research. As Akhter puts it, “The future of agrifood systems is not just about feeding the world, but also about empowering women and building resilience to climate change.”