This blog post highlights how cooperatives can empower women farmers, who make up nearly half of the world's smallholder farmers. It discusses how cooperatives provide access to markets, credit, and training—key factors in improving women's economic and social standing. However, it also acknowledges that structural inequalities, such as limited land rights and leadership opportunities, often prevent women from fully benefiting. The author emphasizes the need for meaningful policy changes and investments to ensure cooperatives truly support women's participation and advancement in agrifood systems, making the International Year of Cooperatives in 2025 an opportunity to drive real progress toward gender equality.