The Northeast of Scotland successfully hosted the 6th European Rural Parliament (ERP) from October 20th to 23rd, 2025. The historic assembly—the first to be hosted in Scotland—brought together over 400 delegates from 43 European countries to advance grassroots policy and cooperation under the theme ‘Strength from Opportunity: Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges’. Amplifying the […]
Tucked away in the serene forests of southern Sweden, Ödevata Gårdshotell stands as a living, breathing tribute to transformation. Once an abandoned facility with a layered past—having served as everything from a refugee camp to a penitentiary—this historic site has become a haven of sustainability, innovation, and rural reinvention. At the helm of this inspiring
Malin Axelsson: Pioneering a Greener Future from the Heart of Småland Read More »
The FLIARA Project reached a significant milestone this month, holding its final in-person General Assembly at the European Parliament in Brussels on October 16th. The formal session, which gathered representatives from all 15 partner institutions, was hosted by Irish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Maria Walsh and coordinated by the University of Galway team.
FLIARA Project Celebrated General Assembly at the European Parliament Read More »
In the quiet village of Tiistenjoki, nestled in the Finnish municipality of Lapua, a former dancer and psychotherapist has built something extraordinary. Sonja Jokiranta, founder of Fields of Creativity (Luovuuden Lakeus), has transformed her lifelong dream of living in the countryside into a social enterprise that is reshaping lives, families, and even perceptions of what
Fields of Creativity: The Innovation Journey of Sonja Jokiranta Read More »
When Isabel Sánchez Tejado left behind a three-decade career in multinational corporations such as IBM and Price Waterhouse, she didn’t imagine her next chapter would be written in the quiet landscapes of Spain’s Sierra de Gredos. Yet, it was precisely there—amid mountains, traditions, and a community grappling with depopulation—that she found her purpose: to prove
Isabel Sánchez Tejado: Redefining Rural Tourism with a Generative Vision Read More »
In the rolling countryside of the Czech Republic, where the meadows brush against fields of grain and the sound of sheep bells echoes through the valleys, stands a farm that is far more than a patch of land. It is the heart of an innovation story led by a woman whose determination and vision have
Iva Zadražilová: Cultivating Change, Rooted in Tradition Read More »
The final conference of the AGRIGEP project, held on September 25th at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, featured Associate Professor Maura Farrell, coordinator of the EU-funded FLIARA project, as a prominent speaker on advancing gender equality in agriculture. The conference, which marked the culmination of a three-year effort to implement Gender Equality Plans
Maura Farrell Highlights Women’s Role in Rural Innovation at AGRIGEP Conference Read More »
In the sun-soaked hills of southern Italy, among olive groves and the scent of the sea, French-born innovator Sarah Khoudja has built a quiet revolution. Four years ago, after leaving behind a demanding career in Brussels as a project manager, Sarah chose a slower, more purposeful life. The result was CuCilento, a workshop where discarded
From Discarded Nets to New Futures: The Story of Sarah Khoudja and CuCilento Read More »
When Anja Frey speaks about her work, her voice carries a mix of determination and warmth. A farmer, value chain manager, and passionate advocate for animal welfare, she has spent more than two decades reshaping the way calves are raised on dairy farms. Today, she leads a pioneering effort in southern Germany that combines sustainable
Anja Frey: Redefining Calf Rearing Through Innovation and Persistence Read More »
On September 4th, 2025, the FLIARA project was a key voice at a recent event in Târgu Mureș, Romania, focused on empowering rural women through European funding opportunities. Organised by the Romanian National Rural Network (NRN), members of the FLIARA Stakeholder Advisory Board, the event, titled “Entrepreneurial opportunities for rural women through LEADER”, provided a
FLIARA Presents at Romanian National Rural Network Event Read More »
