The FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) project successfully held its 4th Community of Practice (CoP) event in Växjö, Sweden. The two-day gathering took place at Växjö Campus of Linnaeus University.
The CoP event in Växjö served as a vital platform, uniting rural and agricultural women innovators, policymakers, key stakeholders, and consortium members representing the ten nations involved in the FLIARA project. The meeting fostered the exchange of knowledge and insights surrounding the innovative approaches employed by women who are driving progress in rural and agricultural sectors. A key focus of the discussions was on formulating policy recommendations aimed at integrating and bolstering the efforts of both current and future rural women actively engaged in innovative practices.
Day 1: Key Discussions with Stakeholders and Ambassadors
The event began on Wednesday, May 14th, with registration and a poster exhibition at the campus’s Glas Gallery of Linnaeus
University. The official launch of the FLIARA CoP took place featuring Annie Roos part of the hosting team and organiser of the event, alongside Associate Professor, Maura Farrell, FLIARA Project Coordinator from the University of Galway. This session was followed by presentations highlighting the results of the FLIARA project, including insights into harnessing the FLIARA Framework for future policy to boost women-led rural and farm innovation in which Maura Farrell, shared findings of the project’s first work package, outlining the development of a framework aimed at shaping future policy to empower women in rural and agricultural innovation. Highlighting the challenges facing rural areas and the often-overlooked contributions of women, Farrell emphasised the project’s goal of creating a supportive ecosystem for female innovators.
The framework, a collaborative effort involving all ten partner nations, integrates future studies, case study methodology, network building, policy benchmarking, and the CoP events. Key concepts identified include rural and gender perspectives, resilience, sustainability, innovation, and governance. The project conducted extensive knowledge reviews, analysed policy and legal frameworks across EU nations, and laid the groundwork for policy benchmarking.
Initial findings revealed a lack of strong focus on supporting women-led innovation within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans, despite the inclusion of a gender-related objective. Rural development programmes and national agri-food policies were also found to generally lack direct support for female innovators.
Looking ahead, the FLIARA project aims to develop a more effective policy and governance framework to boost women’s innovation in rural areas. Current working ideas for policy changes include improving access to finance, challenging gender stereotypes and biases, increasing networking and dedicated training opportunities, addressing land access and farm succession inequalities, considering the design of machinery and equipment, enhancing work-life balance and childcare options, improving access to agricultural knowledge and innovation systems, and crucially, improving gender data collection.
“We wanted to establish to ensure that women had a really responsive ecosystem built around them to promote them, to make them visible, to protect them, and to create policies to make sure that those women were supported as much as they possibly could,” Farrell stated, underscoring the fundamental aim of the FLIARA project. The insights from this initial work package will inform future policy proposals, briefs, and guidelines, with ongoing engagement with policymakers to ensure the project’s findings translate into tangible support for women in rural innovation.
FLIARA’s Foresight Analysis Highlights Women’s Potential in Rural Sustainability
Tuomas Kuhmonen from the University of Turku (UTU), presented the findings of FLIARA’s work package two, which focused on understanding how women can significantly contribute to sustainability innovations in rural areas. The research spanned nine diverse regional contexts across Europe and various types of rural areas. The methodology involved identifying sustainability problems, envisioning solutions, pinpointing necessary innovations, and finally, determining how to enhance women’s involvement in these innovations. The analysis of a large number of stakeholder inputs revealed that a multitude of context-specific measures are needed, with social measures like fostering networks, cooperation, and education identified as potentially more effective than traditional administrative or economic approaches in promoting women’s contributions.
The study further indicated that while women possess valuable assets such as extensive networks and a strong appreciation for social and environmental values, they face obstacles, particularly in contributing to economic, technological, and political innovations. Notably, networks emerged as a crucial element across all rural area types. Kuhmonen concluded that a bottom-up approach, prioritising social measures and network development, is key to unlocking women’s full potential in driving rural sustainability. This approach contrasts with relying solely on top-down administrative or financial interventions.
FLIARA Case Studies Illuminate Pathways and Hurdles for Women Innovators in Rural Europe
Moreover, Annie Roos and Silvia Sivini, co-leaders of the project’s work package three, presented the key lessons learnt from an extensive collection of 200 case studies, showcasing the experiences of women innovators in agriculture and rural areas across the ten FLIARA partner countries. This in-depth analysis revealed that while these women come from diverse backgrounds, they share a common trait of high educational attainment. Their innovations are equally varied, encompassing new services like agritourism and social agriculture, novel products such as upcycled farm materials, and initiatives that enhance local resources and community engagement, often integrating sustainable farming practices and technologies.
Despite their diverse successes and positive impacts on local economies, social inclusion, and environmental awareness, the study identified significant shared challenges. These include limited access to tailored financial resources, information, and land, coupled with bureaucratic obstacles and a perceived lack of political support. Juggling care responsibilities due to insufficient social services and struggling with patriarchal social norms also present major hurdles. However, these women are making considerable impacts by boosting local economies, fostering social inclusion, raising environmental awareness, and challenging traditional gender roles, inspiring others to pursue innovative paths in rural areas.
Based on these insights, Roos and Sivini highlighted several key areas for policy intervention. These include fostering peer and wider networking opportunities with logistical and financial support, promoting integrated policies that address the cross-sectoral nature of many challenges, developing targeted financial programs for women-led innovation in small businesses and sustainable agriculture, establishing mentorship programs, creating more flexible funding mechanisms, reducing bureaucratic burdens, improving the visibility and effectiveness of agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS), enhancing access to information and tailored training, supporting work-life balance through improved social services, and facilitating access to public spaces and land. The co-leaders emphasised the importance of amplifying women’s voices in policy discussions and highlighted the wealth of information available in the FLIARA national case study reports and toolkit.
Cross-Sector Collaboration for Effective Rural Development
Professor Malin Tillmar from Linnaeus University led a discussion emphasising the increasing necessity of cross-sector collaboration for effective rural development, particularly in addressing complex societal challenges and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Tillmar highlighted that the unique challenges of rural areas, such as limited public funding and fewer businesses, make the combined resources and perspectives of civil society, private businesses, and public authorities especially valuable. However, she also pointed out inherent challenges arising from asymmetrical power dynamics and differing institutional logics – the distinct operational principles and motivations of each sector. To navigate these complexities, Tillmar introduced the “five Cs” of successful cross-sector collaboration: competence (intersectoral understanding), contact (networks and meeting points), capital (financial and human resources), continuity (long-term commitment), and context (place-specific solutions). She concluded by sharing insights from ongoing research in three Swedish villages, underscoring that mutual understanding and a problem-solving mindset are more critical than the formal structure of collaboration.
Using Future Visions to Build Policy Supporting Women-led Innovation
Following the insightful round of presentations, Tuomas Kuhmonen facilitated an interactive workshop. This session focused on leveraging future visions to inform the development of policies specifically designed to support women-led innovation in rural and agricultural sectors. The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders who actively engaged in discussions centred on identifying key future trends. The aim was to collaboratively brainstorm and envision potential future scenarios and then to translate these visions into concrete policy recommendations that could effectively empower women innovators and foster sustainable development in rural areas.
FLIARA Ambassadors Share Inspiring Journeys and Offer Guidance
A key moment of the FLIARA CoP in Växjö was a dynamic panel discussion featuring seven of the project’s accomplished ambassadors, each a woman leading innovation in diverse rural and agricultural sectors. Malin Axelsson (Sweden), running an eco-tourism property with a focus on sustainability, Alexandra Larsson (Sweden), founder of a driving school with innovative simulation technology, Blátnaid Gallagher (Ireland), spearheading a wool cooperative and a social farm, Rita Porkka (Finland), leading a nature-based tourism and sustainability education company, Sonja Jokiranta (Finland), founder of a care farm utilizing animal-assisted and creative methods, Sofia De Matteis (Italy), who established an ecological donkey farm promoting outdoor education and slow tourism, and Petra Matos (Slovenia), co-founder of a volunteer center supporting rural communities, shared their unique journeys, motivations, and the realities of their innovative paths.
The ambassadors revealed that their initial sparks often came from identifying unmet needs or a desire for change. For Alexandra, it was the frustration of unrealised ideas as an employee that propelled her to start her own business. Petra’s motivation stemmed from a powerful experience of community and purpose during volunteer work. Sonja was driven by a desire to offer a more holistic and trauma-informed approach to care. Blátnaid felt compelled to address the undervaluing of local wool and support farmers. Rita aimed to share the educational and well-being benefits of nature with a wider audience. Sofia was inspired by the potential of her rural village and the unique connection with donkeys. Malin’s vision was to create a sustainable and welcoming space for slow tourism.
The panellists also openly discussed the hurdles they encountered. Petra highlighted the challenges of securing infrastructure and consistent funding. Alexandra pointed to the difficulties of achieving sustainable profit margins for reinvestment. Blátnaid emphasised the lack of consumer awareness regarding the complexities of supply chains and the need for greater policy support for local producers.
In offering advice to other women aspiring to innovate in rural areas, the ambassadors stressed the importance of building strong networks (Malin), trusting one’s intuition and values (Rita), focusing on the needs of the local community (Sofia), and recognising the inherent strengths women bring to organisation and innovation (Blátnaid). The discussion also touched upon the potential for international collaborations among the ambassadors and how they intend to leverage their FLIARA role to amplify their impact within their own communities and on a larger scale.
This panel provided a powerful and relatable glimpse into the world of female-led innovation, offering both inspiration and practical insights for those looking to make their own mark in rural and agricultural sectors.
Study Visit to Ödevata Gårdshotell Showcases Rural Innovation in Action
To conclude the first day of the CoP, participants embarked on an inspiring study visit to Ödevata Gårdshotell, located near Emmaboda. The establishment is run by Malin Axelsson, FLIARA Ambassador for Sweden, who warmly shared her 20-year journey of transforming Ödevata into a thriving sustainable tourism business in the Swedish countryside. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the “orangery of the future”, featuring an innovative aquaponic system, and engage in discussions about the principles of sustainable tourism. A hands-on session allowed participants to learn about and create their own biochar, highlighting practical applications of the circular economy. The visit, made possible through a grant from SmålandsNavet, provided a tangible example of the innovative spirit flourishing in rural areas. Axelsson’s heartfelt account of overcoming challenges to build a successful enterprise resonated deeply with the participants. The visit fostered an open exchange of ideas among fellow pioneers, demonstrating the significant potential for forward-looking solutions and the power of innovation within rural contexts.
Day 2: Shaping Policies on Rural Innovation
The event continued on Thursday, May 15th with a welcome speech by Peter Aronsson, Vice-Chancellor of Linnaeus University, focusing on the themes of trust and distrust in the context of entrepreneurship within the Småland region. He expressed his delight at the participants’ engaging first day and highlighted the inspiring potential found in both local and broader European landscapes. Aronsson emphasised the importance of university alliances in upholding academic values, freedom, and human rights in a world facing democratic challenges, asserting the power of knowledge and human rights in fostering democratic and economic progress. Drawing on his background as a historian, he underscored the value of understanding the past not just for its own sake but as a tool for unlocking new ideas and possibilities, particularly by bringing previously marginalised histories, such as those of women, into the light.
Aronsson illustrated his points with personal anecdotes, including the story of his grandfather’s toy factory and the often-overlooked crucial role of his sister in its early success. He also highlighted the significant contributions of women in rural economies, such as home-based factory work and the vital, yet often unacknowledged, role of female cooks in social life. Turning to the specific context of Småland, Aronsson discussed the cultural differences between its northern and southern parts, characterised by a stronger tradition of cooperation and trust in the north compared to a more individualistic ethos in the south. He expressed hope that Linnaeus University could serve as a bridge, combining these approaches with modern technology to leverage the natural, social, and cultural resources of the region and offered the idea that similar dynamics might be found across other European regions. He concluded by commending the FLIARA project for its efforts in connecting Europe and localising knowledge to create positive change.
Benchmarking? Counting What Counts to Better Support Women-led Rural and Farm Innovation
Aisling Murtagh from the University of Galway presented the ongoing work of the FLIARA Project on developing a benchmarking framework to better understand and support women-led innovation in rural and agricultural areas. She explained that this framework aims to establish specific criteria, standards, and reference points to measure policy progress in this domain. Murtagh emphasised that while benchmarking provides a valuable high-level overview, it needs to be used in conjunction with other in-depth policy assessment methods like gender impact assessments to provide a comprehensive analysis. The goal is to identify key policy measures that should be in place to effectively support women innovators and to contribute to the broader ambition of mainstreaming gender considerations throughout all stages of policy development and implementation.
Murtagh stressed that FLIARA’s previous work has involved comparing policy contexts across partner countries, revealing some high-level insights and good practices. The development of this benchmarking framework is seen as a potentially crucial tool to address the gap in methods for effectively mainstreaming gender in policy. The project is currently in the advanced stages of designing this flexible framework, drawing on knowledge from existing policies, case studies, and the ongoing input from the CoP. The aim is to create a tool that can be adapted and applied at various levels, from local to EU, and across different policy domains such as agriculture and wider entrepreneurship, ultimately contributing to a more effective policy landscape that truly supports women’s innovation in rural areas.
Bridging the Gap: Bringing Practice into Policy for Women-Led Rural Innovation
Gerdy Verschuure-Stuip from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), representing work package five, emphasised the critical need to translate the wealth of knowledge and experiences gathered by the FLIARA project into effective policy. Envisioning a future of equal rights and opportunities for women in agriculture, she stressed the urgency of action to create a supportive policy and governance framework. This requires convincing stakeholders at all levels, from the EU to national and local authorities, of the importance of the research findings. Verschuure-Stuip highlighted the rich resources available, including trend analyses, foresight outcomes, 200 case studies of female entrepreneurs, and insights from the Communities of Practice and ambassador meetings, all pointing towards key areas needing policy attention.
Drawing on the findings of previous work packages, the presentation underscored the significance of both direct measures targeting innovators (like funding and land access) and indirect, often social and environmental, factors that significantly impact women’s success. Issues such as personal development, empowerment, education, family relationships, digital connectivity, climate adaptation, and work-life balance emerged as crucial considerations. The importance of various support networks – social, schooling, safety (financial), work-life, advisory, learning, and political – was also highlighted. Verschuure-Stuip concluded with a call to action, urging participants to contribute their ideas and insights to the ongoing policy workshops to ensure the development of impactful policy briefs that can drive meaningful change at local, national, and European levels.
EU Commissioner Roswall Champions Women’s Role in Sustainable Rural Innovation
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, delivered a keynote address, commending the FLIARA project for its significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and rural development, as well as its efforts in advancing gender equality. She acknowledged the project’s timely importance, particularly in light of the CAP’s explicit focus on enhancing women’s participation in farming and rural economies. Roswall highlighted the crucial, yet often undervalued, role of women in rural areas, noting their unequal access to resources, education, and decision-making power. She stressed the transformative potential of female-led innovation in agriculture and rural communities while also addressing the structural barriers, such as limited access to capital, that hinder women’s entrepreneurial endeavours. Ultimately, she emphasised that promoting gender equality is not only a matter of justice but also essential for building a strong, resilient, and competitive Europe and expressed her commitment to supporting initiatives like FLIARA that drive this transformative change.
Linda Kelly: Cultivating Innovation from the German Countryside
Participants had the pleasure of hearing from Linda Kelly, FLIARA Ambassador for Germany, who shared her inspiring journey of establishing a diverse organic farm in southern Germany. Starting with a wide array of agricultural crops and livestock, including a unique direct-to-consumer meat sales model, Linda and her family also embraced renewable energy with a wood gasifier powered by their own wood chips. However, her true passion and innovative drive lie in the cultivation and processing of lupin beans. What began as an experimental crop has blossomed into a thriving business producing a range of lupin-based food products, from decaffeinated “lupin coffee” to high-protein flour, flakes, and even lupin-based versions of popular dishes. Despite initial scepticism, Linda’s determination and the nutritional benefits of lupins have led to significant growth, culminating in the conversion of an old cowshed into a modern production facility. While initially hesitant about politics, Linda recognised the importance of support networks and projects like FLIARA in empowering women entrepreneurs to learn from each other and drive their own success.
The “Latte Dad” Phenomenon: Swedish Legislation and Gender Equality
Helene Ahl from Jönköping University, a FLIARA partner, presented the intriguing concept of the “Latte Dad” (“Lattemamma” being the female equivalent, though less of a phenomenon), a figure embodying Sweden’s progressive parental leave system. Ahl explained that unlike in many other European countries where women consistently report difficulties in balancing work and family life, Swedish women interviewed within the FLIARA project did not express the same level of concern. This difference, she argued, can be largely attributed to Sweden’s well-established and evolving parental leave policies, which have fostered a culture where fathers actively participate in childcare.
The “Latte Dad”, often seen enjoying coffee with other fathers and their children during their parental leave, symbolises the societal norm of shared parental responsibility. Ahl emphasised that this wasn’t always the case in Sweden, illustrating the country’s journey from a poor, patriarchal society to one consistently ranking high in gender equality. This transformation was driven by decades of legislative changes, starting with basic rights for women in the 19th century and culminating in comprehensive, shareable, and incentivised parental leave policies, alongside affordable universal childcare. This gradual “nudging” through legislation, coupled with women’s political activism, has fundamentally shifted gender roles and created a society where men taking parental leave is both expected and supported by employers.
Policy Panel: Charting the Course for Women-Led Innovation in Rural Areas
The policy panel, featuring Alexandra Larsson, Shane Conway, Maura Farrell, Pernilla Bodin, Willem Korthals Altes, and Helene Ahl, engaged in a dynamic discussion on the necessary policy changes to further support women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas. Maura Farrell reflected on the significant historical disparities in gender equality across Europe, highlighting Sweden’s early progress compared to Ireland’s later struggles due to societal influences. Alexandra Larsson emphasised the value of peer support networks for women entrepreneurs, while Pernilla Bodin pointed out the need to shift away from a growth-centric definition of entrepreneurship and to better support diverse, value-driven businesses in rural areas, advocating for more equitable resource allocation.
Shane Conway stressed the often-invisible caregiving roles of women on farms and the need for policies that address this alongside economic support, advocating for greater recognition of women as farm owners and the importance of succession planning. Willem Korthals Altes highlighted the slow progress of integrating gender into EU agricultural policy, emphasising that change requires active engagement from individuals and organisations. Helene Ahl discussed the complexities of gender-specific policies, noting that while women-only groups can be empowering, they can also lead to isolation, suggesting a more integrated approach focusing on networking among all individuals. Maura Farrell concluded by passionately advocating for continued positive affirmation and extra support for women until a level playing field is achieved, underscoring the inspiring stories of resilience and determination that drive the need for policy change.
The Feelgood Entrepreneur: Literary Insights into Women’s Entrepreneurial Dreams
Senior Lecturer Piia Posti from Linnaeus University presented her research on the emerging genre of “feelgood literature” and its connection to women’s entrepreneurship in small towns and villages. Posti explained that these narratives, typically featuring a middle-aged woman in crisis who downscales to a rural setting and builds a fulfilling life and business with the support of a female network, offer a compelling alternative to the traditional male-dominated entrepreneurial narrative focused on rapid growth and global expansion. By drawing parallels to Robinson Crusoe, she highlighted the recurring themes of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness but emphasised the feel-good genre’s distinct focus on community, collaboration, and social impact over purely monetary gain. Posti suggested that these stories reflect a contemporary longing for a different lifestyle, one that is smaller-scale, material, social, and communal, and could serve as a source of inspiration and counsel for women entrepreneurs facing their own challenges.
Second day of Workshops
Following the series of insightful presentations, the participants engaged in parallel workshops. One workshop focused on “Empowering Women to Lead: Shaping Policy for Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas”, aiming to translate the discussed insights and experiences into concrete policy recommendations. The other workshop, titled “Policy Practice Discussions”, likely provided a more hands-on space for participants to delve deeper into the practicalities of policy development and implementation related to the themes of the conference.
Reflection on the Workshops
Under the leadership of Louise Weir, the FLIARA Project Manager from the University of Galway, alongside Gerdy Ver Schuure-Stuip (TU Delft), Vitnarae Kang (TU Delft), Belyta Tembo (UTU), Tuomas Kuhmonen (UTU), Aisling Murtagh (University of Galway), and Anastasia Oprea (ECOLISE), the workshops served as a crucial mechanism for knowledge transfer and impact generation within the FLIARA project. Weir emphasised the project’s commitment to centring women’s voices not only in the research phase but also in co-creating policy proposals. The FLIARA CoP, encompassing four events across Ireland, Slovenia, Italy, and Sweden, facilitated discussions among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, breaking down silos and fostering collaboration. These events featured three workshops focusing on benchmarking, futures research, and policy discussions, engaging over 350 individuals.
Reflections from the work package leaders highlighted key findings from each workshop across the different locations, revealing context-specific priorities and challenges. The benchmarking group, led by Aisling Murtagh and Anastasia Oprea, focused on developing practical tools for assessing gender in policy and emphasised the importance of a usable framework adaptable to various country contexts. The policy practice workshop, facilitated by Vitnarae Kang and Gerdy Ver Schuure-Stuip, aimed to identify policy gaps and gather practitioner-led solutions to inform policy briefs and a final policy booklet. The futures research workshop, led by Tuomas Kuhmonen and Belyta Tembo, utilised vision cards to explore women’s potential impact on sustainability in rural areas, with “networks” emerging as a critical but complex factor. Ultimately, the workshops fostered a sense of belonging, empowerment, and knowledge exchange, laying the groundwork for a lasting network and impactful policy recommendations.
Closing and Celebration
The closing of the event was hosted by Maura Farrell and Annie Roos. Farrell began by acknowledging the exceptional women who had thrived in innovation, supported by strong networks, but also reminded the audience of the many women who face challenges and lack the necessary support to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. She emphasised that FLIARA’s work was also for these women, aiming to pave the way for their future success.
A special highlight of the closing was a performance by Sonja Jokiranta, FLIARA’s ambassador for Finland and a singer-songwriter. She gifted the audience with three songs, including a world premiere of “Queen of Love”, a song written for FLIARA and released on Spotify. The first song, “Ode to the Horse”, had a deeply personal story connected to her family and had become the anthem for Finland’s national horse racing events. “Queen of Love” was introduced as a tribute to women who create, lead, and heal, and to the animals who offer unwavering love. Following Sonja’s moving performance, Farrell and Roos expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the entire FLIARA community, the project partners, the 20 ambassadors, the workshop organisers, and the technical and logistical support teams. They highlighted the collaborative and personal nature of the project, emphasising the strong sense of community that had been built. The final remarks included logistical information for the closing reception and well wishes for safe travels home, with anticipation for the final FLIARA conference in Brussels on October 17th, 2025.
