FLIARA’s work on women-led innovation in farming and rural areas has been featured in a new CORDIS Results Pack exploring how research and innovation can support the future of European agriculture and rural communities.
The article, “Women leading the rural transition”, highlights the contribution of women innovators to more sustainable, resilient and inclusive rural regions, drawing on research and engagement carried out through the FLIARA project.
Making women’s innovation more visible
Women are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the future of rural areas, yet their contribution to innovation can still go largely unrecognised. Gender inequalities, traditional patterns of farm succession and limited access to finance, networks, resources and leadership opportunities can create additional barriers for women seeking to develop innovative activities.
FLIARA set out to better understand these challenges while showcasing the diversity and impact of women-led innovation across Europe.
As part of the project, researchers engaged with 200 women innovators across 10 European countries, covering a wide range of activities including farming, food production, tourism, social enterprise, culture and digital technologies. The research demonstrated that women are contributing to rural development in many different ways, from diversifying farm businesses and developing local food systems to creating new services, businesses and community initiatives.
The project also highlighted the importance of the conditions surrounding innovation. Access to finance, supportive local environments, opportunities to develop skills and knowledge, and services that enable a better work-life balance can all make a significant difference to whether innovative ideas can develop and thrive.
Building a European community of innovation
Beyond its research activities, FLIARA brought together women innovators, researchers, policymakers and rural development stakeholders through a European Community of Practice.
The project also established a network of Women Innovation Ambassadors, giving women innovators greater visibility and providing role models for others interested in developing new ideas and activities in rural areas.
By sharing their experiences and journeys, the ambassadors helped challenge traditional perceptions of who drives innovation in farming and rural communities and demonstrated the breadth of women’s contributions to rural transformation.
FLIARA in the CORDIS Results Pack
The article on FLIARA forms part of the second edition of the CORDIS Results Pack “Supporting EU farming through behavioural and economic analyses”, which brings together research and innovation projects funded under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
The Results Pack looks at how socio-economic research, behavioural analysis and innovative approaches can contribute to agricultural policies and support priorities including sustainability, resilience, food security, generational renewal and the revitalisation of rural areas.
Alongside FLIARA, the collection features 14 other European research projects addressing different aspects of agricultural policy, sustainable farming, food systems and rural development.
Read the full article and Results Pack
Read the full CORDIS article “Women leading the rural transition” to discover more about FLIARA’s findings and the women innovators contributing to rural transformation across Europe.
The complete CORDIS Results Pack, “Supporting EU farming through behavioural and economic analyses”, is also available online.