Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano

Dr. Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano is a social scientist and gender specialist who has worked extensively developing research approaches and gender analysis in relation to the feminization of agriculture.

Photo of Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano
She holds an MSc and PhD in Agricultural Extension and Social Anthropology from Cornell University, NY and an Agricultural Engineer degree in Plant Science from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her research and applied work has deep roots in Participatory Action Research (PAR) theory and practice while she has been deeply involved on mainstreaming gender in agriculture and conservation-related efforts. Currently, she is a Senior Academic Advisor for the Global Development Studies -Minor- at the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University in Washington DC. She teaches Sustainable Development and Agriculture-Environment topics including Food Security and Food Systems Transformation with a Gender perspective for the Women and Gender Studies (WGST) and the Center for Latin America Studies (CLAS). Dr. Biermayr-Jenzano supports grounded research on women’s economic empowerment and access to business, gender and food security/food safety as part of food systems transformation approaches. Other topics include women’s access to productive assets such as land, water and seeds systems, as well as their contributions in participatory plant breeding (PPB) and participatory varietal selection (PVS) strategies. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on population, gender and the environment (PHE) and qualitative research methods with emphasis in action research (PAR) and Research Quality Plus (RQ+). She is currently developing action research initiatives along with grassroots organizations in several world regions (LAC, Africa and in Asia, particularly the Kingdom of Bhutan). Her work portrays women farmers in rural world regions their contributions to food security and towards the transformation of the local economy (Women Small business Owners -SMEs). This research is aimed to analyze the role of women farmers in the realization of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) a unique concept that portrays a commitment to building a prosperous and equitable society based in their profound Buddhist spiritual values, gender equity along with the pursuit of economic growth. Dr. Biermayr-Jenzano is also an International Consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Office of Evaluation in Rome and the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean conducting country program evaluations and gender assessments in food security, safety and social protection related strategies. She was the Gender Coordinator for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Manufacturing and Agri systems for Latin America Projects. Other related work includes research analysis and fieldwork for the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and for the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). For IFPRI she analyzed qualitative technical interventions conducted in selected research projects related to Gender and Health Impacts from the adoption of Genetically Engineered crops, supporting Biotechnology and Biosafety decision making in developing countries for IFPRI’s Program of Biosafety Systems (PBS). She has conducted gender analysis for selected value chains and crops in Africa (Ivory Coast, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), Southeast Asia (The Philippines, Thailand, India and Nepal), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay and Bolivia), the Caribbean (Belize, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago) and Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica). Earlier, Dr. Biermayr-Jenzano worked as the Program Leader of the Participatory Research and Gender Analysis Program of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia. In this position, she led, coordinated and implemented the program’s intellectual vision, engaging in collaborative research, identifying strategic opportunities to mainstream gender and enhance women farmers' economic empowerment through business participation. She also performed as a Regional Project Coordinator for FAO and UNFPA in Central America based in San José, Costa Rica covering Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for the implementation of an environmental health project working with local governments, NGOs and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). In the US, she worked on issues related to gender and social stratification at Cornell University for the Cooperative Extension System in New York. While at Cornell, she explored the migration and occupational work patterns of Women Latino Migrant Farmworkers (Mexico and Central America) who settled in upstate New York while conducting agricultural tasks. She also conducted ethnographic research in the Andes Region, studying the effects and implications of government led Intercultural Education Programs directed to Indigenous Quechua women and its impact on gender relations, cultural preservation and identity formation in rural Bolivia. She studied how ethnicity, race and gender determine ways in which traditional societies and Indigenous Peoples conserve biodiversity and natural resources. Later on, she was awarded a Fellowship in Population and Environment by the University of Michigan, Center for Population Studies (Population-Environment Fellows Program), working with organizations providing technical assistance to field-based projects concerning the integration of population, gender and environment. Today, she enjoys working in evaluation tasks and engaging in training opportunities with people in the field (project/program level) and students in a variety of topics conducting action-oriented programs and projects. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Thomas and son Brandon.


Selected Publications (Articles, Peer Reviewed, Book Chapters, Blogs, and Working Papers)


Working with Smallholders: A Handbook for Firms Building Sustainable Supply Chains (Third Edition).Chapter 11.Women’s Participation. International Finance Corporation (IFC). 2023. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/40177 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.


Ensuring societal considerations are met when translating science into policy for sustainable food system transformation. Trends in Food Science & Technology Volume 137, July 2023, Pages 104-108, Elsevier, Science Direct. Brajesh K. Singh, Evan D.G. Fraser, Tom Arnold, Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano , Jacqueline E.W. Broerse , Gianluca Brunori, Patrick Caron, Olivier DeSchutter, Karen Fabbri, Shenggen Fan ,Jessica Fanzo, Magdalena Gajdzinska, Mirjana Gurinovic, Marta Hugas, Jacqueline McGlade, Christine Nellemann, Jemimah Njuki, Hanna. Tuomisto r, Seta Tutundjian, JustusWesseler u, Patrick Webb w https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2023.04.021


IFPRI. 2022.Chapter.10 Bio-innovations and climate-smart food systems transformation: The case of genome-edited crops for low- and middle-income countries. José Falck Zepeda, Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano, Ediner Fuentes, Enoch Mutebi Kikulwe, and Maria Mercedes Roca. https://www.ifpri.org/publication/bio-innovations-genome-edited-crops-climate-smart-food-systems


Integrated global network of Science-Policy-Society Interfaces needed to transform food systems (Nature; 2022) Trends in Food Science & Technology. Evan Fraser: Brajesh K. Singh; Tom Arnold; Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano; et at. Manuscript: TIFS-D-22-01524.


Professionalizing Female Farmers for Better Business in Haiti (IFC). Washington DC. March 2022. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/professionalizing-female-farmers-for-better-business-in-haiti


Enhancing science–policy interfaces for food systems transformation. Singh, B.K., Arnold, T., Biermayr-Jenzano, P. et al. Enhancing science–policy interfaces for food systems transformation. Nat Food 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00406-6 ; https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00406-6


Everyone at the Table: Co-creating Knowledge for Food Systems Transformation. 2021. European Commission. Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. B-1049 Brussels; ISBN 978-92-76-40362-3; doi:10.2760/21968; https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/b3e25405-eb99-11eb-93a8-01aa75ed71a1

FAO. 2021. Evaluación del programa de cooperación de la FAO en Colombia 2015-2019. Serie de evaluaciones de los programas en los países, 02/2021. Roma. https://www.fao.org/3/cb3369es/cb3369es.pdf


Biermayr-Jenzano, Patricia. 2020. Buenas Prácticas para Cadenas de Café con Plena Equidad de Género y Libres de Trabajo Infantil en Centroamérica. The Nature Conservancy, Washington DC http://www.resilientcentralamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Buenas-Pr%C3%A1cticas_PolicyBrief_ResCA.pdf


Reflexiones para un futuro programa de protección social en Venezuela. Diaz-Bonilla, Eugenio; Biermayr-Jenzano, Patricia; and Paz, Flor. 2020. LAC Working Paper 13. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134196

http://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/134196/filename/134409.pdf

 

Medidas de Protección Social para la Adopción de Dietas Sanas y Accesibles en América Latina y el Caribe Una revisión de la Literatura. 2020. IFPRI. Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano, PhD http://ebrary.ifpri.org/utils/getfile/collection/p15738coll2/id/134027/filename/134235.pdf 


Diaz-Bonilla, Eugenio; Paz, Flor; and Biermayr-Jenzano, Patricia. 2020. Nutrition policies and interventions for overweight and obesity: A review of conceptual frameworks and classifications. LAC Working Paper 6. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133584


El rol de la mujer rural en el Sistema agroalimentario latinoamericano/The role of rural women in the Latin American agri-food system Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano, Florencia Paz | October 14, 2020 https://a4nh.cgiar.org/2020/10/14/el-rol-de-la-mujer-rural-en-el-sistema-agroalimentario-latinoamericano/?utm_source=CGIAR+GENDER+Platform+mailing+list&utm_campaign=b490e7c610-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_07_10_12_51_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_050d5574bc-b490e7c610-327643913

 

Biermayr-Jenzano, Patricia. 2019. Food systems, obesity, and gender in Latin America. LAC Working Paper 1. Washington, DC: IFPRI. https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133322


Fair Trade. Estudio de Caso Sobre Transversalización de Género en La Coordinadora Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Pequeños/as Productores/as de Comercio Justo (CLAC-TRIAS). 2019. San Salvador, El Salvador

 

IICA-FORAGRO Plan Estratégico 2019-2030. Foro de las Américas para la Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario (FORAGRO). 2018. San José. Costa Rica http://www.foragro.org/documentos/foragro-plan-estrategico-2019-2030


Independent forward-looking learning review of the Global Forum in Agricultural Research (GFAR). 2018. FAO/IFAD. Rome, Italy https://www.gfar.net/documents/independent-forward-looking-learning-review- global-forum-agricultural-research-and innovation


Gendered Dimensions of Key Value Chains in Southwestern Morocco, in Agriculture Value Chain. 2018. Kassam, Shinan. N, Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano, Boubaker Dhehibi and Aden Aw-Hassan. “ Intech Open Limited, London, SE1 9SG. UK http://mts.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/gendered-dimensions-of-key- value-chains-in-southwestern-morocco


Evaluation of the Committee on World Food Security. 2017. FAO, Rome, Italy

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/cfs/Docs1617/Evaluation/CFS_Evaluation_Final_Report 14_April_2017.pdf


Evaluation of FAO’s Contribution in Guyana; 2016. FAO Office of Evaluation (OEDD), Rome, Italy http://www.fao.org/3/a-bd486e.pdf


Evaluation of FAO’s Contribution in Trinidad and Tobago; FAO Office of Evaluation (OEDD), 2016. Rome, Italy http://www.fao.org/3/a-bd484e.pdf


Evaluation of FAO’s Contribution in Barbados and Member Countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, FAO Office of Evaluation (OEDD), 2016. Rome, Italyhttp://www.fao.org/3/a-bd480e.pdf


Women of Cotton/ Mujeres de Algodon; 2017, FAO RLC, Santiago, Chile http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6938s.pdf


Sistemas Agroalimentarios desde la Perspectiva de Genero/Sustainable food systems from a gender perspective, 2016. FAO http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5724s.pdf

 

Algodón y Género: Participación de la mujer rural en la cadena de valor del algodón en América Latina (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Perú y Ecuador). Biermayr-Jenzano, P. FAO, Final Report Proyecto GCP/RLA/199/BRA. (2015), Santiago, Chile

 

The Roots of Empowerment: Argan Oil Cooperatives and Women’s Roles in the Souss Region of Morocco. Biermayr-Jenzano, P. and Shinan Kassam, (2014). ICARDA- Intl. Summit of Cooperative, Quebec. Canada


Understanding gender and poverty dimensions of high value agricultural commodity chains in the Souss Masaa-Draa region of southwestern Morocco. Biermayr-Jenzano, P. and Shinan Kassam (2014), pp.25-61 International Center for Research in Dry Areas, ICARDA, Amman, Jordan


Value Chain Analysis and Women’s Empowerment Poverty Traps and Argan Oil Production In Southwestern Morocco. Biermayr-Jenzano, P. (2013). pp.58. Intl. Center for Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Jordan


Gender Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops in Developing Countries. Final Technical Report Submitted to: International Development Research Centre (IDRC-CRDI). Jose Falck-Zepeda, Patricia Zambrano, Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano –Contributor; 2013, IFPRI, Washington DC.


Engendering agricultural research development and Extension Education. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, USA. 76 p. Meinzen-Dick, R.S.; Quisumbing, A. R.; Behrman, J.; Biermayr Jenzano, P.; Wilde, V.; Noordeloos, M.; Ragasa, C.; Beintema, N. M.(2011); http://www.ifpri.org/publication/engendering-agricultural-research


Repositioning PRGA in Times of Transition, PRGA, CIAT, Cali, Colombia, February 2010 Gender Implications for Climate Change for Eco-Efficient Agriculture; (2009) CGIAR, PRGA Program, Cali, Colombia http://www.slideshare.net/CIAT/poster32a


Strategic Gender Platform, CGIAR Systemwide Program PRGA, Brief PRGA Program, Cali, Colombia, (2009) http://cgmap.cgiar.org/docsRepository/documents/MTPProjects/2009-2011/CIAT_2009-2011_03.PDF


Children in the Shadow of AIDS: Studies of Vulnerable Children and Orphans in Three Provinces in South Africa, Adato, M, Kadiyala, S, Roopnaraine, T, Biermayr-Jenzano, P and Norman, A, International Food Policy Research Institute. IFPRI. Washington, DC. (2005)


Maximizing Conservation in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Gender Consideration, Biermayr-Jenzano, P.; IUCN/PRB, Washington, DC. IUCN V World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa, (2003) http://www.prb.org/pdf/IUCNGenderFolleto.pdf

Water & You. Biermayr-Jenzano, P. The Environmental Management Council. Dutchess Co. NY (1993)


Further Training and Expert Consultations 

-FAO-IFPRI Taller Virtual: Innovaciones en políticas fiscales y sociales para hacer frente al sobrepeso y la obesidad en América Latina y el Caribe: Alimentos saludables más accesibles, asequibles y convenientes para todas las personas. December 15-16, 2020

-Conducted Country Program Evaluation for FAO Colombia - Case Study and Evaluation of Best Practices to achieve SDO2 Zero Hunger May- September, 2020. Washington DC

-The Nature Conservancy: Café Resiliente en Centroamérica: Un Dialogo Virtual; Honduras, Guatemala

   and El Salvador. August 19, 20, 25th,2020.  

- World Bank – Nutrition Smart Agriculture. 2019.Support the World Bank Agriculture Team in Washington DC, reviewing gender strategies and Country Profiles in Nutrition Smart Agriculture (NSA) providing inputs to the conceptual framework

-  Coordinated Regional IFPRI-FAO event focused on food systems, obesity and gender (Mexico, DF) Nov. 2019

- Biermayr-Jenzano, Patricia. 2019. Food systems, obesity, and gender in Latin America. LAC Working Paper 1. Washington, DC: IFPRI. https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133322 

- Fair Trade gender analysis in the Latin America Region. CLAC-TRIAS; 01/31-02/10. 2019. El Salvador

- Hunger and Malnutrition Lessons from Latin America. A Roundtable. Center for Latin America Studies, Georgetown University. November 27, 2018 https://latinamerica.georgetown.edu/events/hunger-and-malnutrition-lessons-from-latin-america 

- Expert Consultation on Gender Sensitive and Responsible Agricultural Investments, FAO and TWIN April 24-26, 2018, London, UK

-Global Forum in Agricultural Research (GFAR) Meeting, August 29th-September 10, 2017; FAO Rome, Italy

FORAGRO Assembly, August 7-10, 2017; IICA, San José Costa Rica                                                        

-World Commission of Food Security (CFS), October 17-21, 2016. FAO, Rome, Italy

-FAO Regional Workshop Gender and Caribbean Women, April 18, 2016. Pt. Of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

-Writing Women’s Lives Conference. Women’s Economic Empowerment: Bhutan, Peru, India and Senegal. March 20-22, 2016, Doha, Qatar

-FAO II Taller de Capacitación de Puntos Focales de Género, December 10, 2015, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá

-Principles of Gender Analysis and Participatory Research in Bhutan (Women’s Education), June 19, 2015, Royal Thimphu College, Thimphu, Bhutan

-Gender and Value Chain Analysis (Cotton) in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay y Perú. Preliminary Results. December 1-3, 2014. FAO RLC, Santiago, Chile

-Value Chains and Women’s Empowerment: Poverty Traps and Booming Markets in Morocco. International Center for Research in the Dry Areas. Amman, Jordan January 15th, 2014

- Gender Issues in Cotton: Making Women Visible, Panel Presentation. 72nd Plenary Meeting, International Cotton Advisory Committee. Cartagena, Colombia September 29-October 4th, 2013

-Gender Global Learning and evidence Exchange (Gender GLEE), USAID Feed the Future. Maximizing Feed the Future Outcomes by Reducing Gender Gaps, Washington DC, May 22-23, 2013 

- Social Analysis Systems –SAS2 Calgary, Canada, May 9-12, 2011

- Mapping and Social Network Analysis, CIAT, Cali, Colombia, April 2011

- UN Women- Expert Consultation Meeting (EGM): Enabling rural women’s economic empowerment: institutions, opportunities, and participation, Accra, Ghana, Sept. 20-23, 2011

- UN 55 Commission for the Status of Women (55 CSW), NYC, USA, February 22-March 3, 2011

- Women’s Leadership and Management Course, CGIAR, Cali, Colombia, July 2010

- Gender Responsive Participatory Research, Expert Consultation, Colombia, June 2010