Creating An Online Community

How Online Databases Can Serve As a Platform For Connecting Women in Agtech

By Dahlia Isabella Bolt

Data is information and it is everywhere in modern life. From networking platforms to social media, the backbone of our career decisions and knowledge of the industry world comes from data. All data is stored in some manner, usually with a database, which can take on many forms and can be coded in a variety of programming languages, and databases can be constructed to serve a variety of needs—including being used as an accessible platform for connecting women in Agtech.

The number of women who work in Agtech is ever growing yet there remains a lack of a community to connect them. These women include farmers, teachers, innovators, and scientists, and these are just a few examples of the broad careers that make up Agtech; each woman could be a valuable connection to the other. Connections and a strong professional support network are essential to a thriving career today as jobs and other opportunities are often found or supplied from these networks. Without a dedicated networking platform or even support group, industry knowledge is not taught through mentorship by mentors, employment opportunities do not reach the full potential hire pool, and in the case of women in Agtech, women are left at a disadvantage when compared to their peers.

Many male-dominated professions (engineering for example) tend to have vast support networks and professional societies. Other professional groups began via individuals creating personal connections and networking with each other’s professional groups. Eventually those communities evolved into the professional societies we have today, giving aspiring members of a profession with a society or organization an easy place to start their networking search, such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. For women, the Society of Women Engineers was founded on the note that the industry of engineering is male dominated and does not necessarily connect women who face the same struggles as men in the field, but the women in Agtech community does not have this sort of foundation yet despite the number of women in the field.

As there is no community for these women, there is no centralized starting point for a woman trying to get into Agtech. Today, connections made outside of these societies’ conference halls and meetings are made on networking sites such as LinkedIn or social media sites like Facebook, but it can be difficult to figure out where to start or how to connect to someone else in the field for mentorship, advice, and more when you know nothing about the industry and are using a platform for a large range of careers. Without a starting point, getting into the field of Agtech can be challenging , and that is where databases can come in handy (in this context, they may be referred to as directories because of their similarity to library directories, and they have no relation to computing file directories).

Databases are important because they can serve as a source of information to help women in Agtech connect and create a community because they provide a centralized source of information for women and organizations supporting women in Agtech. Women can find others in the database with similar interests to their own and connect with them directly instead of attempting to find them on other sites, growing their professional network and finding mentors all from one place. It encourages collaboration as well, something seen in other professional fields that previously has not been easy in Agtech due to the lack of a large network.

By building a directory of women (and organizations hiring, funding, and/or teaching women) in Agtech, From Farms to Incubators along with its collaborators in this initiative continue to create connections and helping women support women by giving a starting place for them to reach out and begin their professional career in Agtech or learn more about the field for those who have experience already. The Farms to Incubators: Women in Agrifood directory breaks down many barriers that are faced by women in Agtech.   

Apart from the benefits, the women themselves gain, such as a place to find a mentor or reach out for job opportunities, a database’s presence on the internet helps increase visibility and representation of women in the scientific industry, which remains male dominated by appearance. In truth, women make up over 43% of all food-production industries. By displaying a large database of professional women in the industry, the database can help to break down gender stereotypes and promote gender diversity and equality in the field. Additionally, by highlighting the work and achievements of women in Agtech, the directory can serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement for other women who are interested in pursuing careers in the industry.

For Agtech as a whole, the directory can be beneficial to those gathering insights on the current state of the Agtech industry, including trends, opportunities, and challenges faced by women because each item in the database contains a date of entry. This information can be used to inform decision-making and support initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Agtech. By providing a comprehensive overview of the industry, the directory can serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders who are interested in promoting the growth and development of the Agtech industry; Farms to Incubators: Women in Agrifood does not only help individuals because of this; the industry can thrive better as more women are able to share their expertise and experience.

A directory of women in Agtech is necessary in helping the women in the Agtech community thrive. From one place on the From Farms to Incubators website, someone can find a job, a degree program, and even a mentor. The From Farms to Incubators team has worked over the past several years to create the extensive database of women in Agtech. The Farms to Incubators: Women in Agrifood directory has been picked up by both AgFunder and Ambrook. It features nearly 30 countries and has more than 1,000 entries. The database is free to the public for anyone and everyone to access. By creating a centralized platform for connecting women in Agtech, From Farms to Incubators and our mission aligned partners are helping to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and supporting the growth and success of women in Agtech—all just with one database.

Dahlia Isabella Bolt is a senior at New York University majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering