The EU CAP Network is set to host a workshop titled ‘Women-led Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Areas’ from Wednesday, April 17, to Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Krakow, Poland. The workshop aims to shed light on the critical role women play in rural economies, particularly in agriculture, and address the challenges they face.
The call for expressions of interest is currently open, with the deadline for applications set for February 5, 2024, at 23:59 CET. The event, conducted entirely in English with no interpretation, will focus on fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and building networks to empower women in farming and rural communities.
Background and Objectives
Women constitute 51% of the EU population, with 67.3% of working-age women (20–64 years) employed in rural areas as of 2021. However, despite their substantial contribution, challenges persist, including discrimination, limited access to the labour market, and inadequate compensation in informal and vulnerable employment.
In farming, where women represent 31.6% of EU farmers, issues like access to land, training, education, and equal treatment in financial and farming organisations prevail. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has recognised these challenges, advocating for gender mainstreaming and a gender equality approach in the CAP Strategic Plans (2023–2027).
The workshop’s objectives include exploring EU programmes supporting women in agriculture, showcasing successful initiatives by female innovators, and identifying barriers to women entrepreneurs in rural areas. It also aims to promote women-friendly entrepreneurship ecosystems and facilitate networking among participants to support women-driven innovation.
Target Participants
The workshop invites women-led initiatives from EU rural areas, encompassing farming, forestry, and environmental production and services. Additionally, it welcomes advisors, researchers, representatives from farmers’ associations, chambers of agriculture, industry, managing bodies, local authorities, and the press from across Europe.
How to participate
Interested participants can submit their applications through the official EU CAP Network website: EU CAP Network Workshop: Women-led Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Areas.
This workshop presents a unique opportunity to celebrate and support the innovative contributions of women in agriculture, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for rural communities.