On March 27, 2025, The FLIARA Project held an online event, “Empowering Rural Communities: Gender Equality and Innovation in Action,” convening leading researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to delve into the crucial intersection of gender equality, rural development, and innovation. The webinar spotlighted the pivotal role women play in shaping sustainable rural economies while addressing the persistent barriers they face, including limited access to land and financial resources, gender biases, and gaps in training and policy support. The event aimed to highlight practical solutions, showcase successful innovations, and provide policy recommendations to foster inclusive rural entrepreneurship by featuring expert presentations and interactive discussions.

Maura Farrell, Associate Professor at the University of Galway and coordinator of the FLIARA project, opened the webinar, setting the stage for the discussions. She introduced FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) and outlined the project’s core goals on building networks with key actors to support women-led innovation, increasing the visibility of women in agriculture and rural areas to influence policy, enhancing skills and capacities for current and future female innovators, conducting 200 case studies on female-led innovations across Europe, selecting 20 female ambassadors to represent the project’s mission, and establishing a successful Community of Practice (CoP). She emphasised that FLIARA is currently focused on policy design, engaging stakeholders, and shaping future frameworks for gender equality in rural innovation.

Keynote and Policy Frameworks

The webinar’s first keynote was delivered by Elena Schubert from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). Schubert focused on the Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) contribution to gender equality in farming and rural areas. She highlighted a significant advancement: “For the first time in CAP’s history, we have a clear commitment to enhancing women’s participation in farming and rural economies.” This commitment includes the introduction of positive discrimination measures, such as Spain’s policy granting women farmers 15% higher support under the Young Farmers Scheme. Schubert also stressed the importance of gender-disaggregated data collection for tracking funding allocation to women and ensuring continued progress.  

Aisling Murtagh from the University of Galway presented the FLIARA Framework, which aims to reshape policy around rural and agricultural innovation by focusing on women-led innovation and addressing structural barriers. The framework is based on benchmarking, a structured approach to identifying best practices, gaps, and policy improvements. Murtagh outlined the framework’s main insights: understanding barriers and opportunities, recognising gendered innovation pathways, policy benchmarking, integrating sustainability concerns, and focussing on key policy action domains. These domains include strengthening rural women’s roles in entrepreneurship, improving rural services, and enhancing policy support systems. Murtagh emphasised the need for improvement, stating, “The policy support system has many promising measures, but we also have much to learn from existing practice and even more to improve in how the system works.”

Tuomas Kuhmonen from the University of Turku in Finland provided key insights on empowering women for rural sustainability. He highlighted women’s strengths in sustainability innovation, including their extensive networks, strong educational backgrounds, and value for social and environmental sustainability. Kuhmonen also acknowledged the challenges and barriers women face, such as structural barriers in economic, political, and technological innovations; lack of capital; weak networks; and lack of equality and recognition in policy frameworks. He emphasised the effectiveness of social measures, such as co-creation platforms, education, empowerment initiatives, and place-based policies, over traditional interventions. Kuhmonen stressed the importance of networking, stating, “You can make an invention alone, but you cannot make an innovation alone. Networks are the key to leveraging women’s strengths in solving rural sustainability problems.”

Aleksandra Niżyńska, partner at Gender Solution presented research for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Food (EIT Food) on empowering women innovators in the agrifood sector. She highlighted the strong correlation between gender equality and innovation, noting that regions with higher gender equality tend to be more innovative. However, she pointed out the significant gender disparities in the agrifood sector, including the low percentage of women farm managers and the disproportionately low funding for women-led agrifood tech startups. Niżyńska identified lack of data and funding as key challenges, emphasising the need to close the data gap to drive better policies and ensure targeted funding for women innovators. “Gender equality is not just a social goal—it’s an innovation imperative. The more inclusive an innovation ecosystem is, the more breakthroughs and sustainable solutions we will see in agrifood,” Niżyńska stated.  

Breaking Barriers to Women-Led Innovation

The interactive panel discussion, “Breaking Barriers to Women-Led Innovation,” featured a series of impactful contributions from its distinguished panelists. Graeme Dean, Project Coordinator of the SWIFT project, emphasized the importance of institutional support and funding, stating, “True innovation thrives when we create environments where women are empowered not just to participate but to lead.” Saša Kržič, FLIARA Slovenian Ambassador and co-founder of Mikrozelenje Šebenik, shared real-life experiences from Slovenia, stressing the role of mentorship and community-based initiatives: “When women support each other, they don’t just break barriers – they redefine the system.” Alicja Krakowska, Project Manager of the Empowering Women in Agrifood Programme from EIT Food, focused on tailored training and capacity-building programs, noting, “Women bring unique perspectives to innovation, and when we invest in their potential, the whole sector benefits.” Marianna Bicchieri, Gender and Development Officer, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), underscored structural inequalities, arguing for stronger policy measures: “Gender equality in innovation is not just about fairness – it’s about unlocking the full potential of our societies.” Maura Farrell, FLIARA Project Coordinator, reiterated the need for intersectional approaches and collaboration: “The future of innovation is diverse – and women must be at the forefront of shaping it.” The session fostered a dynamic discussion on actionable solutions, emphasising that overcoming barriers to women-led innovation requires collective efforts across multiple sectors.  

Global Perspectives

Ilaria Sisto, Gender and Development Officer at FAO, provided a crucial international perspective on the status of women in agrifood systems. She emphasised the significant role of these systems as a source of employment for both men and women, with 36% of working women engaged in the sector. However, Sisto underscored the persistent inequalities that disadvantage women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Women often find themselves in more vulnerable job positions, characterised by informality, part-time status, low-skill requirements, and labour-intensive tasks.

In Africa, for example, over 80% of employed women and men work in vulnerable self-employment in agriculture. Furthermore, only 14% of women in Africa earn wages or salaries from off-farm agrifood employment, compared to 39% of men. Wage disparities persist globally, with women earning an average of 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in agricultural wage employment. Sisto also highlighted structural challenges, such as the 24% gap in land productivity between female- and male-managed farms of the same size and women’s limited access to essential resources like extension services, irrigation, land ownership, and livestock. While some progress has been made in access to finance and digital technology, gender gaps remain significant. Sisto pointed out that deeply ingrained discriminatory social norms continue to hinder progress, and that while many policies acknowledge gender disparities, only 19% translate these acknowledgements into concrete gender-related objectives.  

Sisto powerfully stated, “By addressing the gender gap, we are not just being fair to women; we are strengthening entire households, communities, economies, and societies. Women’s empowerment in agrifood systems is not just about equality—it is an economic and social necessity.”  

Case Studies and Community of Practice

Silvia Sivini from the University of Calabria and Annie Roos from the University of Linnaeus presented research that highlighted the fundamental role of women in agricultural innovation and rural development. Drawing on case studies analysed in the FLIARA project, they emphasised that women have introduced innovative models based on sustainability, diversification, and resilience in the face of structural challenges. Common barriers faced by these women include patriarchal norms, limited access to finance, and a lack of adequate infrastructure. However, their ability to mobilise support networks, access subsidies, and leverage community collaboration has been key to the success of their initiatives. Annie Roos stressed the importance of recognising and strengthening the role of women as agents of change in agriculture and rural economies, stating, “The women in our research have not only proven to be innovators but have also defied traditional structures and opened paths towards a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural model.”  

Anastasia Oprea from ECOLISE presented on “The FLIARA Community of Practice: The Role of Ambassadors and Multi-Actor Approach,” highlighting the crucial role of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in fostering women-led innovation in rural and agricultural settings. She emphasised that the FLIARA project extends beyond research by creating a dynamic community of practice that connects women innovators with policymakers, researchers, and rural stakeholders. This multi-actor approach ensures that women’s voices and experiences are integrated into policy frameworks and innovation strategies. Oprea explained that FLIARA ambassadors play a vital role as connectors between grassroots initiatives and institutional structures, helping to amplify women’s contributions to sustainable rural development. She stressed the importance of co-creation in policymaking, where women innovators are active participants in shaping policies rather than passive recipients. Oprea stated, “Innovation in rural areas is not just about new technologies; it is about fostering inclusive networks where women can lead, collaborate, and drive meaningful change in their communities.”

Unlocking Opportunities and Solutions

Irene Leonardelli from the University of Calabria moderated the panel discussion on “Unlocking Opportunities for Women in Rural Innovation,” emphasising the need for structural changes to enable women’s full participation in rural economies. She pointed out that while women in rural areas demonstrate remarkable resilience and creativity, they often lack access to financial resources, training, and decision-making spaces. The discussion highlighted how targeted policies, mentorship programmes, and inclusive funding mechanisms can help bridge these gaps. Leonardelli stressed the importance of collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, and grassroots innovators to drive meaningful change and underscored the need to amplify women’s voices in policy discussions to ensure truly inclusive rural innovation. Leonardelli stated, “Women in rural areas are not just beneficiaries of innovation; they are its architects. To unlock their full potential, we must create ecosystems that support, fund, and recognise their contributions.”  

Panellists Betty-Ann Bryce, Senior Policy Analyst at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Aleksandra Niżyńska from Gender Solution, Sally Shortall, Project Coordinator of the Grass Ceiling Project, Ursula Kelly, FLIARA Irish Ambassador and Managing Director of Cormac Tagging, and Maura Farrell offered valuable insights. Bryce emphasised the need for policy frameworks that recognise women’s economic contributions and ensure equal access to funding and resources. Niżyńska pointed out structural inequalities and stressed the importance of gender-responsive policymaking and data collection. Shortall shared research findings on social and cultural barriers and called for better networking and mentoring opportunities. Kelly spoke about the resilience and creativity of rural women, advocating for stronger community support systems. Farrell reinforced the need for structured support and an intersectional approach in designing policies.  

A powerful quote from the discussion summarised the sentiment: “Women in rural areas are already leading change, but they need recognition, resources, and the right platforms to amplify their impact.” – Ursula Kelly.

Reflecting on the audience’s contributions during a Q&A session, Maura Farrell invited Alicja Krakowska and Betty-Ann Bryce to respond to specific points raised. In response to the question, “How can we change the perception that successful rural women entrepreneurs are exceptions rather than the norm?”, Alicja Krakowska emphasised the importance of increasing the visibility of rural women entrepreneurs, stating, “We need to start by making their stories more visible… There are so many talented, hard-working women in rural areas building amazing businesses, but we just don’t hear about them enough.” She advocated for showcasing their achievements through media, events, and training programmes. Betty-Ann Bryce addressed the question, “How can we better support rural women in innovation? Should this be through rural development policies, a dedicated innovation hub, or something else?”, arguing for integrating them into broader sectoral networks rather than creating separate spaces that could lead to further exclusion. She suggested highlighting women’s accomplishments first, rather than their gender, to challenge the perception that they are an exception, stating, “Lead with what they did first and the fact that they’re women second… Once you go down the route of separating them, the perception of separation will follow, and decision-makers will see them as a secondary element.”

The webinar provided a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities for women-led initiatives in agriculture and rural areas. Experts and practitioners alike called for a concerted effort to break down systemic barriers, promote gender-responsive policies, and empower women as key drivers of rural innovation and sustainable development. The discussions underscored that achieving gender equality is not only a matter of fairness but also an economic and social imperative for building resilient and thriving rural communities.

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