Petra Matos | How Volunteering and Solidarity Are Transforming Rural Slovenia
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Annette Harberink: “Innovation Grows Where Values Take Root”
It was during the FLIARA Community of Practice event in Ireland—buzzing with conversation, collaboration, and shared ideals—that we had the chance to sit down with Annette Harberink, a leading voice in biodynamic agriculture in the Netherlands. In a sea of innovation narratives, hers stands out not just for its vision but for its grit and
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Petra Matos: Planting Seeds of Solidarity in Rural Slovenia
On the rolling green hills of Slovenia’s Primorska region, a modest former military guardhouse has been transformed into something extraordinary: a thriving hub of solidarity, learning, and global cooperation. At its heart is Petra Matos, a geographer whose life mission is as clear as the summer skies that stretch above her community project, Park Istra.
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Rooted in Resistance: The Feminist Farm of Sofia De Matteis
On the slopes of Santa Caterina dello Ionio in Italy, where the Ionian breeze carries stories of ancient rural life, Sofia De Matteis is rewriting the script of innovation—not with machines or silicon chips, but with donkeys, wild artichokes, and a feminist compass. Originally from Sicily, Sofia’s journey took her from the narrow alleys of
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Applications Open for ACORNS 11 Programme Supporting Rural Female Entrepreneurs in Ireland
Early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland are being invited to apply for the eleventh cycle of the ACORNS programme, a peer-support initiative backed by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Applications are open until midnight on Monday, 22 September 2025. The ACORNS (Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups) initiative is designed to
New Guide Calls for Gender-Responsive Budgeting to Transform European Agriculture
A new guide published by the SWIFT Project is calling for the adoption of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) as a tool to make European agricultural policies more inclusive and fair. The report, How-to Manual on Gender Responsive Budgeting and Agricultural Policies, argues that the current agricultural system not only mirrors but also reinforces deep-rooted inequalities,
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From Lupins to Leadership: The Rural Innovation of Linda Kelly
In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, where fertile fields stretch towards the foothills of the Alps and the breeze carries a hint of Lake Constance’s freshness, an agricultural transformation is quietly taking root. At its centre stands Linda Kelly — organic farmer, innovator, and award-winning entrepreneur — who, alongside her husband and parents, is redefining the
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Exclusive Insights: The FLIARA Project’s Role in Empowering Women in Agriculture and Rural Areas
Across Europe, the contributions of women in agriculture and rural development are increasingly recognised as fundamental to sustainable regional growth. The FLIARA project is at the forefront of efforts to create a supportive ecosystem that empowers women as key drivers of progress in these vital sectors. FLIARA, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, is dedicated
A Buzz of Change: Natalia Díaz and the Rural Revolution of Ecoalpispa
Nestled in the rugged hills of Icod de los Vinos in northern Tenerife, Spain, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one led not with banners or slogans, but with beeswax and resilience. Natalia Díaz, biologist and ecological beekeeper, is the woman behind Ecoalpispa and La Abejera, two intertwined ventures that are redefining rural innovation, one eco-wrapping at
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