VIENNA, 14 September 2026 – The film “Women Who Dig”, directed by Anna Kuelken, showcases Canadian women on their journey to fight for food sovereignty, sowing seeds of resilience in the face of climate change, corporate agriculture, and biodiversity loss and reviving traditional, ecologically rooted practices. Inspired by Trina Moyles' book of the same name, this documentary tells a lesser-told story of women farmers pushing back against industrial practices and, in doing so, combating global concerns of how we understand food and our environment.
Following the screening, a panel discussion with experts moderated by Sonja Wintersberger, Officer-in-Charge of UNIS Vienna, took place.
Valentina Gutkas, Chairwoman of the Rural Youth Austria (Landjugend Oesterreich), highlighted the essential role of young female farmers in the future of the Austrian agricultural sector. Advocating for public awareness on the topic of local and sustainable farming, she said: "If you support us and buy regional food, we're on the right track!"
Austrian UN Youth Delegate Katharina Reisenbauer pointed out that it is a question of privilege whether young people in Austria can integrate these global environmental farming concerns into their personal lives. Reisenbauer stayed optimistic about the future: “It's nice to work on these global processes and then see a concrete local change that can give you hope.”
Kazuki Kitaoka, Director of the FAO Office of Youth and Women, said that creating "a system for listening and talking with young people and young women is one of the key points" of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. He also emphasized the role of the World Food Forum and its National Youth Chapters in this process of advocating for and building more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems.
