“For me, agriculture is far more than just a job – it’s a calling.”
During the International Year of Women in Agriculture (IYWF 2026), the HSWT will be shining a spotlight each month on women who are shaping Agriculture and food systems.
Anna-Lena Dworschak successfully completed her degree in Industrial Engineering: Agribusiness Marketing and Management (now Agribusiness) at HSWT in 2023. Since then, the alumna has been working on her parents’ organic vegetable farm, where she is responsible for seasonal workers, human resources management, certifications and a wide range of organisational tasks. Last year, she took over the management of an organic dairy farm with over 170 animals.
What path led you to your current career?
Anna-Lena Dworschak: It wasn’t always clear to me that my path would lead into Agriculture. It was by chance that I came across the Agribusiness Marketing and Management programme. I was immediately impressed by the diversity of the course in particular. I quickly realised: this is exactly the right thing for me. Whilst I was studying, an opportunity arose for our family to take over a dairy farm that was still run conventionally at the time. I’ve been in charge of the barn since April 2025.
What challenges have you faced along the way?
The path into Agriculture hasn’t always been easy, and it still presents challenges today. As a woman, I often feel I have to prove myself first. That takes a lot of energy, as many of my male colleagues are accepted without question. Nevertheless, I would choose this path again in a heartbeat. For me, agriculture is far more than just a job – it’s a calling. It fills me with pride to see what I’ve already achieved together with my team in the barn.
What would you like to see for the future?
For the future, I hope that women in Agriculture will be seen as farm managers, entrepreneurs and decision-makers as a matter of course. I don’t want to have to constantly explain why I run a farm or make technical decisions. It should be taken for granted that daughters can also take over family farms and that women can successfully balance family life with running a farm without being questioned about it.
What is important for women who want to pursue a career in your field?
To have the confidence to forge your own path! Agriculture is an incredibly varied and fulfilling profession. Anyone who is passionate about it can make a real difference here. You mustn’t let the prejudices or doubts of others hold you back.
What is your view on the UN’s ‘International Year of the Woman Farmer’ campaign?
On the one hand, I think it’s a shame that a dedicated theme year is needed at all to highlight what women in Agriculture achieve day in, day out. Women have played a pivotal role on farms for generations.
On the other hand, the campaign offers an opportunity to raise the profile of women in Agriculture, recognise their achievements and encourage young women to forge their own path in the sector. We should make the most of this attention – not to rest on our laurels, but to achieve greater equality and recognition in the long term.
