TRAINING FOR WOMEN INNOVATING IN FARMING AND RURAL AREAS

Through interviews, the FLIARA project found that training has been a challenge for Italian women innovators. Most of them had difficulty in finding appropriate courses, which in most cases were offered by non-governmental organisations, associations, informal groups and networks and they have to self-finance these courses. Some Italian women innovators attend business start-up courses such as EWA (Empowering woman in Agrifood) to acquire basic skills for running a business. Training for women innovating in farming and rural areas is key to furthering success and opportunity.

Best practices include: 

• Warmonderhof (Netherlands): a small-scale vocational school training on biodynamic and sustainable agriculture. The school provides training, education, teaching facilities, internships, and practical testing. 

• The Business Incubator created at the Polytechnic Secondary School of Technology in Kyjov (Czechia). The purpose is to keep high school graduates in the region through the development of the local business environment utilising start-ups, a co-working centre, the involvement of companies from the region and the Chamber of Commerce. The school also focuses on adult education. 
• The Irish CAP Strategic Plan provides for female focused knowledge transfer groups for women to influence peer-to-peer learning while addressing shared challenges and gender balance. In Spain, the Rural Women’s Advancement Program supports women through training, mentoring and finance, also including a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.