By VÍCTOR R.MARTÍNEZ
Brussels became a platform for a transformative dialogue on December 12, 2024, during the “Exchange of Views on Gender Equality and Diversity: Challenges for Farming and Food.” This session, part of the European Parliament’s Gender Equality Week, underscored the critical need for inclusive policies in agriculture and rural development. Organised by the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), the event featured a blend of expert insights, thought-provoking interventions, and heartfelt testimonies, with Associate Professor Maura Farrell, Coordinator of the FLIARA project, sharing her thoughts during the discussions.
The Stakes for Gender Equality in Agriculture
Opening the session, Daniel Buda, Vice-Chair of the AGRI Committee, welcomed attendees, setting a determined tone for change with a welcoming message from Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament. Contributors like Associate Professor Maura Farrell (University of Galway and FLIARA Project Coordinator), Michaela Höfel (DBV, COPA-COGECA), and Faustine Bas-Defossez (European Environmental Bureau) painted a vivid picture of systemic challenges, including limited access to land, financing, and decision-making roles for women in agriculture.
Faustine Bas-Defossez and Michaela Höfel delivered compelling interventions that underscored the vital role of women in agriculture while highlighting systemic barriers and actionable solutions. Bas-Defossez, representing the European Environmental Bureau, emphasised that “gender equality is essential for sustainable food and farming systems,” presenting data on women’s under-representation in leadership roles and the persistent income gap between male- and female-run farms. She called for tailored financial services, better rural infrastructure, and gender-transformative policies to address these disparities.
Höfel, drawing from her experience as a farm manager in Upper Bavaria, spotlighted women as “innovators and business leaders” who drive sustainability through practices like direct marketing and tourism. However, she noted that women often face dual burdens of farm and family responsibilities, advocating for “flexible childcare, targeted support during pregnancy, and improved access to land and funding.”
Maura Farrell’s intervention added an invaluable perspective, presenting findings from the FLIARA project, which highlights the essential role women play in driving sustainability in farming and rural areas. Dr. Farrell described women’s contributions across four sustainability pillars—economic, social, cultural, and environmental—and emphasised the urgent need to dismantle barriers that suppress their participation.
Voices of Change: Maria Walsh and Christine Singer
Maria Walsh, Irish MEP and member of the Gender Mainstreaming Network, delivered a powerful call to action. She highlighted stark statistics: women make up just 13.4% of farmers in Ireland and 31.6% of farm managers across the EU. Walsh called for targeted initiatives, such as Ireland’s higher aid intensity rate for female farmers, but lamented the lack of broader uptake due to societal biases. “We must ensure policies enable women to fully engage in farming at every stage of their careers,” she urged.
Christine Singer, MEP for Germany and member of the Gender Mainstreaming Network, reinforced this sentiment with personal anecdotes and insights. Drawing on her experience in Bavaria, Singer acknowledged women as the “unsung heroes” of agriculture, managing both family and farm responsibilities often without recognition. She emphasised the need for equal access to resources like loans and land, as well as targeted EU programs to support women’s leadership in agriculture. “The future of farming is dynamic and diverse, and women must play their role,” she affirmed.
Debate Highlights: Questions, Challenges, and Pathways
The session’s interactive “Questions: AGRI Coordinators + Catch the Eye” section enriched the conversation with diverse perspectives. Céline Imart, a cereal farmer and MEP, spoke about the persistent gender stereotypes she faces, such as being questioned about her ability to drive a tractor. “These outdated views undermine women’s credibility,” she said, advocating for measures to combat such biases.
Dario Nardella, Italian MEP, the first male voice in the debate, underscored the importance of men’s involvement in advancing gender equality. “This isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s a societal one,” he said, calling for systemic changes to reduce the gender pay gap and improve women’s access to training and resources.
Elsi Katainen, MEP for Finland, emphasised the importance of retaining women in rural areas, noting that demographic challenges and lack of opportunities often push women to urban centres. “We must craft policies that address the unique needs of women in rural areas,” she urged.
Contributions from others, such as MEPs Luke Ming Flanagan from Irland and Cristina Maestre from Spain, reinforced the message that visibility and representation of women in agriculture are essential. They advocated for policy changes that include improved support for childcare, access to farm relief services, and the promotion of women-led success stories.
Daniel Buda emphasised the importance of rural viability and adapting policies to meet the specific needs of women in these areas. He stressed that creating family-friendly environments, with better access to education and healthcare, is essential for the sustainability of rural communities. “We cannot talk about rural development without addressing the needs of women,” he stated, urging continued dialogue on these critical issues.
Barry Cowen, Irish MEP, highlighted the lack of recognition afforded to women in agriculture, both in Ireland and across Europe. He cited the invisibility of 58,000 women working in the Irish agriculture sector without official farm-holder status. Cowen praised initiatives like Ireland’s recent consultation process, which includes policy reforms and awards for female farmers, and called for these efforts to be integrated into the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, MEP for Romania, shared his experiences from organising a symposium with Romanian farmers, where gender was not a divisive issue. He acknowledged systemic challenges, such as unfair pay practices and inadequate state support, but noted that these problems affected both men and women. Lazarus emphasised the importance of addressing these structural issues for the overall benefit of the farming sector.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, Portuguese MEP, brought attention to disparities in women’s representation across EU member states, noting that countries like Portugal have made significant strides, increasing women’s participation in farming to 25% in recent years. He highlighted the importance of closing the gender pay gap and encouraging young women to enter the sector. “Women’s involvement is key to attracting people to farming and ensuring generational renewal,” he concluded.
Statement by Mario Milouchev, DG AGRI, European Commission
Mario Milouchev, Director of Directorate D “CAP Strategic Plans II” in DG Agriculture and Rural Development, delivered a powerful statement on the European Commission’s commitment to gender equality in agriculture. He noted that women account for only 31.6% of EU farm managers and face greater disadvantages compared to their rural male counterparts and urban women. Milouchev emphasised the CAP’s 2023–2027 objective to promote gender equality through tailor-made interventions, such as Spain’s higher payments for young female farmers and Ireland’s enhanced support for women in capital investment schemes.
Milouchev also shared inspiring examples, including Austria’s “Frau Eide” project, which addresses women’s needs through education, childcare, and entrepreneurship opportunities. He stressed the Commission’s efforts to ensure women’s representation in decision-making bodies, such as CAP monitoring committees and LEADER action groups. “Women’s inclusion is essential for the long-term vision of rural sustainability,” he concluded, highlighting the need for comprehensive and integrated support across all policy areas.
A Unified Call to Action
Closing the session, Dr. Farrell highlighted the moral and practical imperative of supporting women in agriculture. “These women are not only vital to their communities but are key drivers of environmental and economic innovation,” she said. She urged policymakers to move beyond tokenism, emphasising that targeted support and inclusive frameworks are essential for long-term sustainability and growth.
Höfel dismissed the notion that women require specialised tools, emphasising that societal resistance is the real barrier to their participation. She called for broad societal support to enable women to succeed in agriculture.
Bas-Defossez called for comprehensive reforms to farming and food systems, emphasising that gender equality and sustainability must go hand in hand. “We need a toolbox of policies and market-driven measures to drive real change,” she stated.
The event concluded with a consensus that gender equality in agriculture is both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. FLIARA’s contributions, along with insights from MEPs like Walsh and Singer, offer a roadmap for a more inclusive and equitable future. As the European Parliament continues its work, the voices of women in agriculture, amplified through projects like FLIARA, will remain central to shaping policies that address the unique challenges and opportunities of rural communities.