News Archives - Page 4 of 18

Cultivating Change: How Alžbeta Nagyová is Redefining Green Farming in Czechia

In the shadow of the Ostrava-Karviná coal mine basin, where heavy industry once defined the rhythm of life, a different kind of transformation is quietly taking root. On 11 hectares of gleaming high-tech greenhouses in Dolní Lutyně, Bezdínek Ltd. is growing not only tomatoes, cucumbers, and honey but also a new vision for sustainable living […]

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Saša Kržič: The Slovenian Pioneer Turning Tiny Greens into a Rural Revolution

In the heart of the Slovenian countryside, nestled in the small town of Borovnica, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking root—one tiny leaf at a time. At the centre of it stands Saša Kržič, a determined entrepreneur and innovator who has transformed a seed of curiosity into a thriving business and a national movement around

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Ecovillage Gathering Highlights Women’s Role in Rural Futures

A workshop at the 2025 European Ecovillage Gathering, hosted by the Global Ecovillage Network Europe, brought a focus on the essential role of women in shaping a sustainable future for rural communities. The event, held on August 15th of the gathering, provided a platform for participants to engage with critical issues surrounding gender equality and

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Rooted in the Forest: The Innovation Journey of Rita Porkka

In the quiet expanse of Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland, where birch forests whisper with the wind and rivers carve ancient paths, Rita Porkka has built more than a business—she has created a movement. As the CEO and founder of Naturest Ltd, Rita has turned her lifelong love of nature into a force for education, well-being,

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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

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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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