Co-creating an inclusive app development and testing approach
Phito, with its vision of inclusive agriculture, is developing an app to support small and medium-scale farmers — a group that too often has less access to technological innovation and fewer opportunities than large-scale farmers. Yet even within this group, some people face additional barriers. Women farmers, young farmers, and other marginalised groups often encounter greater challenges, despite playing a vital role in food production. With Phito, we are actively working to change this by involving these farmers directly in the design of the app.
That’s why we are especially excited that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has dedicated 2026 to the “International Year of the Women Farmer” (IYWF), giving this important topic global attention.
You can find more information on the FAO website on the International Year of the Women Farmer.
What is Phito’s approach to inclusive agriculture?
A central part of our app development process is engaging directly with its future users. Listening to their experiences, understanding their needs, and learning from their expertise: Their input forms the foundation of the Phito App. From the very beginning, we have made a conscious effort to include those who are otherwise often overlooked in agricultural innovation. In our first user needs assessment, 20% of 620 respondents were women and 11% were under the age of 35 — classified as ‘young farmers’ based on the European Commission’s definition, which considers farm managers below 35 as young. We know these numbers are far from perfect, but they are a starting point.
Currently, the alpha version of our app is being tested. That means that in each Phito food system our local partners are working with small, trusted groups of people from the agri-food sector to ensure the app works reliably and meets real-world needs. Inclusivity and inclusive agriculture remain central in this testing phase and our local partners are committed to ensuring that no target group is left behind. To achieve this, they develop tailored and creative outreach strategies to actively involve women and young farmers, and to expand the app’s user base in an inclusive way that reflects the diversity of the agricultural sector.
In a sector that remains largely male-dominated and ageing, the voices of women and younger farmers are too often overlooked. That is why we are particularly proud that our test groups across the Phito food systems are diverse including farmers but also other agricultural stakeholders of various age and gender. Out of 121 test users 40% are women and 20% are young testers of whom 9 are farmers. And we are just getting started. All of the test users play an active role in shaping the app.
An inclusive future for agriculture
Agriculture is diverse and there are many voices to be heard and many stories to be told. In the coming months, we look forward to sharing some of these perspectives with you to learn from one another and inspire a more inclusive future for agriculture.
If you have an interesting story to share, we would love to hear from you and share your story.
Women in Agriculture – Phito Radio Show
Last November, we recorded a special episode of the Phito Radio Show dedicated to “Women in Agriculture”. In it, we explored the challenges and achievements of women farmers and what is needed for a more inclusive agricultural future.
