From September 2 to September 6, 2024, the 8th Moravian Conference on Rural Research—EURRURAL ’24 took place in Brno, Czech Republic, bringing together experts from across Europe to discuss the evolving challenges of rural development in a time of de-globalisation. Hosted by Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU), a key partner in the FLIARA Project, the conference provided an ideal platform to highlight FLIARA’s mission to support women-led innovation in rural areas and farming.

Throughout the conference, FLIARA was actively featured during participant registration through printed materials as well as oral presentations delivered by project team members. The project’s goals, outcomes, and progress were shared with attendees, underscoring its relevance in today’s European countryside.

One of the key highlights was a presentation by Prof. Milada Šťastná from Mendel University in Brno, who presented findings from a Czech case study titled “Innovative Czech Women: Navigating Gender Equality and Rural Development.” Her presentation shed light on the crucial role women play in driving rural innovation while balancing gender equality in the process. Prof. Šťastná’s insights were a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue about fostering inclusive rural ecosystems across Europe.

Additionally, Tuomas Kuhmonen and Belyta Tembo from the University of Turku, also FLIARA partners, delivered a presentation on “Resolving Rural Sustainability Problems: The Role of Women.” Their contribution emphasised the transformative impact women have on addressing sustainability challenges in rural areas, aligning closely with FLIARA’s vision of creating a Europe-wide rural innovation ecosystem that supports women entrepreneurs.

The EURORURAL ’24 conference, with its focus on “European Countryside and De-Globalisation,” served as a crucial forum for exploring diverse rural problems from a broad range of perspectives, including geography, sociology, ecology, economics, and territorial planning. As a platform for international dialogue and knowledge sharing, the event facilitated deeper connections between rural researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

The FLIARA Project continues to make strides in promoting women-led innovations in rural regions, and its presence at EURORURAL ’24 marks another step toward building a more inclusive and sustainable future for Europe’s rural communities.