The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has selected Ing. Monika Nebeská as one of the first-ever 100 FAO Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development – exceptional women whose professional and personal stories inspire others and help shape the future of agriculture, the food sector and rural areas. One of the leading figures in Czech agriculture, she also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
Monika Nebeská is one of the most prominent figures in Czech agriculture and the food industry, with activities extending into academia, science and research, education and rural development. For many years, she has connected practical agricultural experience with new knowledge and innovations and supported their application. Among other roles, she is Chair of the Board and Director of the Všestary Agricultural Cooperative, Chair of the Vegetable Growers’ Union of Bohemia and Moravia, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Hradec Králové.
In the official announcement, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted her leadership, long-standing contribution and the exceptional impact of her professional work. According to him, these qualities truly stood out among an exceptionally strong field of nominees. The recognition also draws attention to the important role of women, who, as leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, contribute to the development of agriculture and rural communities, create new opportunities for future generations, and help shape the future of the entire sector.
“Amazement, emotion and a feeling that is almost impossible to put into words. Then comes a moment to take it all in, the first emotions settle a little, and only gradually do you begin to grasp the true significance of such an honour. And with it, everything that led to it – the people, experiences, decisions, sometimes even mistakes, and the courage to change things. Above all, the people without whom none of this could have happened. That is why I do not see the FAO recognition merely as a personal honour. For me, it is also a wonderful message about the story of the Czech landscape – about the people who shape it, the experience and knowledge we pass on to one another, and the courage to seek new paths,” says Monika Nebeská.
The Czech Ministry of Agriculture nominated three Czech women for the programme. Alongside Monika Nebeská, they were Ing. Dagmar Janovská, Ph.D., an expert in plant genetic resources, and PhDr. Věra Doušová, Director of the Food Bank for Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. The Czech nominations alone demonstrated the breadth of areas in which women contribute to the transformation of agriculture, the food sector and rural areas – from primary production and management through science and research to solidarity and support for people in need.
The 100 FAO Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development initiative is part of activities related to the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, proclaimed by the United Nations. It aims to present the stories of women whose work reaches beyond the boundaries of individual professions and contributes to the future of agriculture, agrifood systems and rural communities.
A ceremony honouring the 100 FAO Women Heroes will take place in October 2026 during the World Food Forum at FAO headquarters in Rome. The event will bring together the women selected from around the world, whose stories, experiences and work, according to FAO, are helping to build a better future for agriculture, agrifood systems, rural communities and the planet as a whole.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic