Rende, Italy—January 29-30, 2025 – The FLIARA project (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) successfully hosted its 3rd Community of Practice (CoP) in Rende, Province of Cosenza, Italy, bringing together over 70 participants from across Europe, including researchers, policymakers, rural innovators, and representatives from agricultural and community organisations.
Organised in collaboration with the University of Calabria and the Italian CAP Rural Network, the event provided a vital platform for policy discussions, research insights, and knowledge exchange, fostering stronger support systems for women-led innovation in rural and agricultural sectors. Six of FLIARA’s 20 Innovation Ambassadors were spotlighted, sharing their experiences of leading transformative projects in different European contexts.

A Platform for Policy, Research, and Innovation
The opening session featured remarks from Ercole Giap Parini, Director of the Social and Political Science Department at the University of Calabria; Giovanna Vingelli, Rector’s Delegate on Gender Equality; and Silvia Sivini, Research Team Coordinator. Their introductions underscored the critical role of women in driving innovation in rural and farming communities, setting the stage for an engaging programme.
A key session led by Maura Farrell, FLIARA’s Project Coordinator from the University of Galway, offered an overview of the project’s latest research findings and policy developments. This was followed by an intervention from the Italian CAP Rural Network, which explored the intersection of agriculture, innovation, and women’s leadership, highlighting policy gaps and opportunities within the Italian context.
Throughout the event, FLIARA project partners presented key findings from ongoing research, providing essential insights into the future of rural and farm policy, the role of foresight in sustainability, and the impact of female-led innovations. Louise Weir introduced The FLIARA Framework, a tool designed to shape future rural and agricultural policies. Tuomas Kuhmonen presented findings from FLIARA’s Foresight and Trend Analysis, exploring the long-term sustainability of rural communities led by women. Silvia Sivini and Annie Roos shared insights from FLIARA’s Case Studies, highlighting real-world examples of female-led innovations across Europe and their transformative impact on rural economies.





Barbara Forcina from the Italian CAP Rural Network provided an in-depth analysis of the current landscape of agriculture and rural innovation in Italy, highlighting the critical role of women in driving sustainable transformation. Her presentation explored how female entrepreneurs are reshaping rural economies, the challenges they face in accessing resources and decision-making spaces, and the policy frameworks needed to foster gender-inclusive rural development.
A roundtable discussion on women-led innovation in the Calabria region, moderated by Vingelli, featured representatives from organisations such as LAG Terre Locridee, Confagricoltura Donne, CIA Donne in Campo, Associazione Nazionale Donne dell’Olio Aps, and Associazione Donne e Diritti. The discussion provided a grounded perspective on the barriers and successes encountered by women entrepreneurs in rural Italy, drawing attention to the structural challenges, cultural shifts, and policy interventions needed to support their work.

Later, the Ambassador Innovation Journey showcased six women leaders from across Europe, who are pioneering rural and agricultural transformation in their respective countries. Sarah Khoudja (Italy), Sofia De Matteis (Italy), Saša Kržič (Slovenia), Ursula Kelly (Ireland), Natalia Díaz (Spain), and Malin Axelsson (Sweden) shared personal accounts of their work in sustainable farming, local economic revitalisation, and community-building, illustrating the diverse yet connected realities of female-led innovation in rural Europe.

Teresa Roche, Chair of the IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs Committee in Ireland and representing the FLIARA Stakeholder Advisory Board, on the Key Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Agriculture: “The FLIARA CoP has highlighted some of the biggest challenges facing women in agriculture today—access to finance, generational renewal, and digitalisation. Training in financial management, innovation, and technology is essential to ensure that women have the confidence and skills to lead in the sector. I believe the FLIARA project will serve as a key role model for the next generation of female farmers, opening doors to new opportunities, funding, and stronger policy support at the EU level. By creating ambassadors on the ground, it will provide much-needed support for future female leaders in agriculture.”
Interactive Workshops Shaping the Future
The first day concluded with three highly engaging workshops, designed to actively involve participants in shaping future policies and strengthening networks that support women-led innovation in rural areas.
A session on Using Future Visions to Build Policy Supporting Women-led Innovation invited participants to explore possible futures for agriculture and rural communities, selecting key scenarios where women’s leadership could be transformative. Discussions ranged from local food systems and renewable energy to sustainable rural lifestyles, with an emphasis on the policies needed to bring these visions to life.
Two workshops were held in parallel, Empowering Women to Lead: Shaping Policy for Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas, focused on verifying FLIARA’s research on public policies affecting rural women while fostering connections between female innovators, policymakers, LEADER groups, and researchers. This session served as both a knowledge exchange and a community-building exercise, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in policy development.



Also the Policy Practice Discussions workshop, which provided a platform for critical reflections on existing policies, identifying gaps that hinder female-led innovation and proposing concrete policy solutions at local, national, and European levels.
Reflecting on the need for direct engagement with policymakers, Maura Farrell stated, “Over the coming months, we aim to engage with key stakeholders and policymakers—people who are truly committed to advancing women in agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. We want to hear their perspectives, ensure they have access to FLIARA’s findings, and work together to shape policies that genuinely benefit women in the agricultural sector.”
Exploring Women-led Innovation in the Valle Crati Region
The second day of the Community of Practice moved beyond the conference room and into the Valle Crati region, where participants had the opportunity to meet women leading innovative projects in rural development and sustainable farming.
In San Benedetto Ullano, the group was welcomed by Rosaria Amalia Capparelli, mayor of the town, who presented the SAI Project “Insieme a San Benedetto Ullano,” an initiative focused on social inclusion and sustainable rural development. Through discussions with local operators, attendees gained firsthand insights into how community-led approaches can drive rural resilience and integration.



During the field visits in the Valle Crati region, participants of the FLIARA CoP met Rita Bilotti, who leads Serragiumenta, an agricultural estate combining organic food production, sustainability, and rural entrepreneurship. The company produces extra virgin organic olive oil, wines from native Calabrian vines, and high-quality cheeses and meats, while also promoting renewable energy solutions and agritourism. With its commitment to environmental sustainability and local development, Serragiumenta serves as a strong example of how innovation and tradition can coexist to support rural economies.
Inge De Bo, Scientific Coordinator of EU-FarmBook and participant of the CoP, highlighted the importance of sharing success stories of women innovators in rural areas. She praised the Ambassador Innovation Journey, the roundtable on Calabria, and the field visits for providing valuable insights into FLIARA’s goals. She also stressed the role of platforms like EU-FarmBook in making these stories more visible and accessible, helping to connect and inspire more women in agriculture.
In addition to the field visits, participants engaged with the stories of female entrepreneurs from other parts of Calabria and Campania through a series of documentary screenings and video testimonies. These included the experiences of Sofia De Matteis (Avamposto Agricolo Autonomo) and Giulia Montepaone (We’re the South), who provided a detailed account of their challenges, the perseverance required to sustain their initiatives, and the tangible benefits their innovations have brought to their regions. A documentary on Sarah Khoudja’s work further illustrated the reality of women’s leadership in rural innovation, offering a powerful narrative on the hard work, resilience, and impact of female-led rural enterprises.



Building a Stronger Future for Women in Rural Innovation
Valentina Carta, Member of the FLIARA Stakeholder Advisory Board and Technologist at the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy (CREA-PB) in Italy, on the Importance of Collaboration and Support for Women-led Innovation: “The FLIARA CoP was a valuable space for knowledge transfer and experience-sharing, allowing for true cross-fertilisation of ideas. Beyond discussions, it reinforced the importance of building strong networks and support systems for women innovators in rural areas. My advice to young women aspiring to lead in agriculture is to stay passionate, keep learning, and create strong local networks—because collaboration is key to making a lasting impact. While there are initiatives in place to support women in rural areas, much more needs to be done to truly empower them at the local level, both in Italy and across Europe.”
Also, Valentina Hažić, Business Consultant, Farmer, and Member of the FLIARA Stakeholder Advisory Board, on the Importance of Support Networks for Women in Rural Innovation, “While financial constraints are often seen as the biggest challenge for women in agriculture, emotional support from family, community, and networks can be just as crucial. Sometimes, having the courage to start and the backing of a strong support system makes all the difference. The FLIARA CoP is already playing a key role in connecting and encouraging women to take the leap and turn their ideas into action. Beyond networking, supportive policies are essential in determining how many of these ideas can truly be implemented. When policy frameworks align with practical initiatives, like those fostered by FLIARA, they can become a driving force for real change. My advice to young women is to be brave, trust their intuition, and not let obstacles stop them. Challenges will always arise, but the key is to be creative in solving them and never give up.”
The FLIARA 3rd CoP highlighted the urgent need for gender-responsive policies, stronger networks, and increased support for female-led innovation in rural and agricultural sectors. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across Europe, the event provided a collaborative space for shaping more inclusive and effective rural development strategies.
With momentum gained in Rende, FLIARA will continue to bridge research and action, ensuring that women innovators remain at the forefront of rural transformation.
