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Female-led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas

Consider this: in the European Union, family-run farms make up 96% of the total, yet women manage only 29% of them. Furthermore, while women constitute 50% of the EU's population, their presence in the self-employed workforce stands at 34.4%. These figures underscore the untapped potential of rural-based women in driving innovative and entrepreneurial endeavours.

Introducing FLIARA

FLIARA is an EU-funded project currently working on boosting the understanding of the needs and challenges facing women leading innovative environmental and rural development practices in EU farming and rural areas.

The FLIARA Project recognises the key role that women's leadership plays in fostering resilient and innovative rural communities. We aim to dismantle the barriers that hinder women's progress, including gender stereotypes, limited access to resources, and the challenges of reconciling work and family obligations. Our project is built upon a multi-actor approach, uniting diverse stakeholders who are committed to advancing gender equality and promoting the European Gender Equality Strategy. We can unlock a wealth of fresh perspectives and pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future by enhancing understanding and recognition of women's contributions in farming and rural areas.

Empowering Change Makers: Building a Sustainable Future with FLIARA

Who We Are And What We Do?

At FLIARA, we are a consortium of esteemed partners with diverse disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge spanning various fields. Our expertise includes geography, sociology, agriculture, economics, anthropology, planning, gender studies, rural development, entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, communications, open science, sustainability, psychology, and futures studies. This extensive range of knowledge allows us to approach the project from multiple perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in fostering sustainable and inclusive development in farming and rural areas.

Each partner brings unique strengths and experiences to the table, contributing to specific areas of focus based on their expertise. However, it is in the collaboration and collective effort across all work packages that the true strength of FLIARA lies. We strive to accomplish significant results and generate noteworthy change by leveraging all partners' knowledge, networks, resources, and skills.

Our interdisciplinary approach, combined with a dedicated focus on gender aspects, enables us to address the complexities of creating a sustainable, balanced, and inclusive future for agriculture and rural areas. Through futures research, innovation, and collaboration, we aim to foster women-led innovation, enhance policy frameworks, and promote knowledge and innovation systems that empower women in farming and rural communities.

Consortium Composition

The FLIARA consortium comprises esteemed universities such as the University of Galway (Galway), Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), University of Calabria (UNICAL), University of Turku (UTU), University of Ljubljana (UL), Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), Jönköping University (HLK – Jönköping), University of Oulu (UOULU), Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU), and Linnaeus University (LNU). These academic institutions boast rich backgrounds in policy, practice, and cutting-edge research. Their invaluable insights will shape the trajectory of our project.

The FLIARA consortium also includes prominent European Networks like the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) and European Network for Community-led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability (ECOLISE), further amplifying our reach and impact. Teagasc, a national agricultural state agency and extension advisory body, brings their extensive experience and practical knowledge to the table. The involvement of Longford Women's Link (LWL), a dedicated Community Organisation and Social Enterprise, and Consulta Europa (CE), an innovative SME, adds essential diversity and dynamism to our consortium.

The University of Galway is at the forefront of the FLIARA project, taking the lead and bringing their extensive expertise in various initiatives and programs. The FLIARA University of Galway Team, based in the Rural Studies Centre within the Discipline of Geography, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, plays a pivotal role.

ECOLISE, the European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability, brings its expertise on fostering grassroots movements and pioneering approaches to sustainable transformations. With a vision of empowering local communities, ECOLISE serves as a vital bridge, forging connections between key sectors and stakeholders throughout Europe.

The University of Turku (UTU) with its renowned Finland Futures Research Centre, spearheads expertise in futures studies. The centre's profound knowledge of envisioning future scenarios aligns seamlessly with the project's overarching goal of fostering sustainable farm and rural futures.

The University of Calabria (UNICAL), a vital member of our consortium, brings exceptional expertise in innovation, gender studies, and rural development to the table. With a keen focus on empowering women, UNICAL will play a pivotal role in analysing and exploring the pathways and requirements for women-led sustainability innovations.

FLIARA aims to be in the vanguard of agricultural and rural development transformation, resulting in a more equitable and sustainable future. To have a long-term influence on farming and rural areas, we are bridging disciplines, developing collaborations, and advocating gender equality.

Are you excited to know more about our consortium members? Throughout the project a dedicated section we will be placed on the newsletter to talk about all of them!

Stakeholder Advisory Board

The Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) is an integral component of the FLIARA project's multi-actor approach. The board is playing a key role in offering strategic, practice-focused, and end-user centric advice to the consortium regarding FLIARA activities. Comprising representatives from various EU contexts in the fields of farming, innovation, and policy, the SAB ensures a diverse range of perspectives are considered in shaping the project's direction. We are delighted to introduce you the members of our SAB:

Building a pathway towards recognition of women-led innovations

Key Concepts Informing Our FLIARA Project

Rural women frequently face unique challenges and often go unnoticed in farming and in rural business. The FLIARA project aims to reverse this rural reality, by empowering rural women, promoting gender equality and highlighting the innovative practices women undertake and often lead in farming and rural areas. To help us along this path, the FLIARA project partners have worked collaboratively to ‘co-create’ a roadmap that guides us in understanding complex ideas around rural gender issues...

Expanding our Knowledge around Rural Innovative Women

FLIARA Project explores the innovative practices of rural women in farming and rural areas. To appreciate this subject, the project partners first needed to understand the key issues and what better way to do this than to examine the knowledge that already exists. Knowledge that academics, other project groups, rural practitioners and key stakeholders have already fashioned as they journeyed this path before us. Central to understanding the issues and creating a knowledge review around them was a process of co-creation, which involved all FLIARA project partners, bringing personal, professional and existing knowledge to the table...

Exploring Sustainable Futures: Envisioning Women's Role in Farm and Rural Innovations

Within the FLIARA project, the focus is on creating visions that address sustainability challenges and highlight the contributions of women in shaping farm and rural futures. These visions are being developed by identifying and assembling elements that effectively tackle sustainability problems. In this sense, FLIARA aims to provide insights and guidance for fostering gender-inclusive innovations that propel the journey towards sustainable farm and rural communities by envisioning these futures...

Related Projects

FLIARA, GRASS CEILING and SWIFT: Supporting women-led innovation in rural areas

Rural Vision welcomes FLIARA, GRASS CEILING and SWIFT, three recently launched projects funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe, to empower and enhance the role of women in rural life and agriculture through research, training, and policy development.

Grass Ceiling Project

GRASS CEILING (Gender Equality in Rural and Agricultural Innovation Systems) is a three-year multi-actor project funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe (grant agreement number 101083408). With a focus on empowering rural women, GRASS CEILING aims to foster socio-ecological innovations led by women in agriculture, the rural economy, and rural communities. The project aligns with the UN's goals on gender parity, the EU gender equality strategy, and key initiatives such as the Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy, the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, and the European Pillar of Social Rights.

SWIFT Project

SWIFT (Supporting Women-led Innovations in Farming and rural Territories) is a project dedicated to promoting sustainable and inclusive development in European rural areas. With a focus on women-led innovations, SWIFT strives to drive positive change in agriculture while advancing gender equality from an intersectional, feminist, and human rights-based perspective. Through applied feminist innovation studies research, SWIFT aims to reshape the narrative in agriculture and address the social dynamics that perpetuate inequalities.

Attended Events

Spotlight on FLIARA's Event Engagements: Inspiring Collaboration and Progress

FLIARA across the EU

FLIARA has been generating a significant buzz across Europe in the first 6 months of the project!

Check out our Multimedia content!

Visit FLIARA’s Multimedia platform on the website for inspirational podcast and videos in different EU languages.

FLIARA on the NEWS!

Visibility Campaign

In a world where women play a crucial role in driving innovation, it is essential to recognise and amplify their contributions. The FLIARA project understands this significance and has launched a comprehensive campaign to enhance visibility and promote the achievements of women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas. This article delves into the campaign’s objectives, strategies, and impact, highlighting the importance of empowering women in these sectors.

As we embark on the next phase of the FLIARA Project, we are excited to share with you the upcoming milestones and focus areas that will shape our journey.

FLIARA remains steadfast in its mission to recognise and empower women-led innovations within the agricultural and rural landscape. Our continuous efforts will contribute to fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future. Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we will delve into these exciting endeavours and share the remarkable stories that unfold along our journey.

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