this could raise total agricultural output in developing countries by which could in turn reduce the number of hungry people in the world by research commissioned by the bill melinda gates foundation also shows that by increasing women s participation in smallholder sourcing and support programmes international food companies can improve crop productivity and quality grow the smallholder supply base and improve access to highvalue markets bill melinda gates foundation the subsectors of agricultural education and research and forestry had a particularly strong focus on gender equality technologies such as fuelefficient stoves or motorised scooters and other timesaving products are particularly important