Knowledge and Research Review

Part of FLIARA’s first steps were to review what we currently know about women-led innovation in farming and rural areas, as well as understand key gaps and future needs for research. Among the resources contained in the Women-led Innovation Research Review you will find: 

• A review of knowledge focused on a range of key areas: The Rural Context; Gender in Rural Areas; Sustainable Rural Development; Rural Innovation; Female Entrepreneurship; Opportunities in Digital and Ecological Entrepreneurship. 

• The FLIARA Fact Sheets on previous European projects that collate and assess key information on European research and innovation projects. The synthesis of information found in the Fact Sheets highlights the aims, context and results of these projects. 

A few key takeaway points?  

We won’t do justice to the report in this short space, but as food for thought some key points are as follows. Take a look at the full report for more details: 

• Women’s contributions to innovations can be overlooked or undervalued. Nevertheless, women are at the forefront of rural innovation and are crucial in bringing a range of advances to rural regions and agriculture. 

• The lack of recognition of women’s contribution can exasperate some of the main challenges faced by women-led innovation in rural areas and farming.  

• Women may carry out innovation activities in industries that are not considered prominent sectors for innovation, or in social or geographical contexts where innovation is not looked for or championed. 

• A variety of motivations are behind rural and farm women’s decision to pursue entrepreneurship, such as: unemployment, better income, flexibility, career independence, empowerment and control over livelihood. 

• A variety of challenges face women leading innovations on farms or in a rural region, such as: access to education and skills, supportive networks, mentoring, access to finance and work life balance.