An EU-funded project is putting the spotlight on innovation in agriculture and rural areas led by women.

FLIARA, or Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas, marked its inaugural Community of Practice (CoP) event on 1 and 2 July at the University of Galway, bringing together more than 80 participants who are committed to supporting and accelerating female-led innovation and enterprise.

The event also incorporated vital networking and training hubs.

Launched last year, FLIARA spans 10 EU countries and involves 15 project partners.

It aims to heighten visibility and awareness of female-led innovations and their central role in achieving EU environmental and inclusion policies.

A total of 30 entrepreneurs working in rural Ireland are profiled in a new booklet unveiled at the event, which was attended by Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, and newly re-elected Fine Gael MEP, Maria Walsh.

Two of the 30 featured women have been named as Irish ambassadors for the programme: Ursula Kelly, Director of Operations at Cormac Tagging, a Department of Agriculture approved supplier of cattle, pig, sheep, and goat tags based in Tuam; and Blátnaid Gallagher from Galway Wool, who set up a first-of-its-kind virtual wool producer co-op and is committed to telling the story of the endangered Galway sheep and increasing the use of Irish wool.

Across Europe, a total of 200 case studies of innovative women and their businesses have been undertaken from countries including the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Romania, and Italy.

From this impressive group, another 18 ambassadors have been chosen to promote the programme, along with the two from Ireland.

Opening address

In her opening address, Minister Pippa Hackett, who is an organic farmer with her husband Mark in Co Offaly, said supporting female farmers is a key priority.

“For me personally, professionally, and within the Government, gaining insight into the lived experiences of women working and living in agriculture in Ireland will inform our approach to implementing effective policies and supports; to encourage and recognise the role of women in the sustainable future of agriculture and rural life in Ireland.”

The event also featured an online address from the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission.

Equality Coordinator for DG Agri, Margaret Bateson-Missen, expressed her gratitude for the FLIARA Project and highlighted how the European Commission is working to reduce gender gaps across Europe.

A panel discussion moderated by Sally-Ann Barrett, a multimedia journalist with Freeway Media and Communications, revealed some inspiring stories of enterprise and innovation.

The panel featured FLIARA ambassadors Mieke Elzenga and Annette Harberink, both from the Netherlands, who spoke of their experiences in organic farming and in setting up an eco-community.

Alexandra Larsson recounted the roots of her female-led driving school in rural Sweden, and Germany’s Anja Frey told the audience about her award-winning veal and calf programme.

Project Coordinator, Associate Professor Maura Farrell, said she was “humbled” to conduct the interviews for the booklet with 30 innovative women in Ireland.

Their aim is to help drive women forward in agriculture and rural areas, who have been overshadowed and suppressed for too long.

“If you can see, you can be it,” she said, and the FLIARA project gives women a platform to spotlight their achievements, effect changes to policy, and tackle the challenges facing women in rural areas.

The discussion also included contributions from MEP Maria Walsh, Steve Dolan, CEO of Galway Rural Development and Muireann Prendergast, postdoctoral researcher at SETU Waterford, and a member of the Grass Ceiling Project.