September New research identifies policy priorities to support women-led innovation in Irish farming

New research from University of Galway, Longford Women's Link and Teagasc has identified nine policy priorities to better support women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.

 The research is presented in a series of policy briefs, developed as part of the three-year FLIARA project- Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas which was funded under Horizon Europe.

 The research led to the development of recommendations across areas including finance, skills, digitalisation, gender inclusion, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), generational renewal, representation, women's empowerment and work-life balance – all of which are focused on supporting women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.

 The policy priorities come against a backdrop of persistent gender inequalities in agriculture. According to the European Commission, women account for 31% of beneficiaries of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but receive just 15% of total CAP payments, while men, who account for 63% of beneficiaries, receive 69% of funding. Farm income statistics also show female-run farms earned an average of €18,700 per worker in 2023, 42% less than male-run farms, with the income gap widening that year.

 Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West, launched the FLIARA Policy Briefs and said: "As the European Parliament's lead negotiator on generational renewal in farming, I see every day how much we need the evidence in front of us if we're serious about building a fairer future for Irish and European agriculture. These policy briefs put women's experience and innovation at the centre of that conversation, and I'm proud to launch a series that gives policymakers like me the tools to act, not just acknowledge the problem."

 The policy briefs are published to coincide with the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer, a global initiative highlighting the contribution of women to agrifood systems and the need to address the barriers they face. They will be shared with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Rural and Community Development, as well as Local Action Groups, the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association and women’s farming organisations

 The Irish FLIARA team is led by University of Galway’s Professor Maura Farrell and includes Dr Aisling Murtagh and Louise Weir (University of Galway), Tara Farrell (Longford Women's Link) and Anne Kinsella (Teagasc).

 Professor Maura Farrell, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at University of Galway and lead on the FLIARA project, said: “In this year of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we are delighted to produce a policy brief series that reflects not only the needs of women farmers in Ireland but also what is needed by women engaged in innovation both on and off farms. This series translates the lived experience of the women who took part in FLIARA into clear, actionable recommendations, and we hope it gives policymakers the evidence they need to make Irish and European agriculture a genuinely more inclusive place to work and innovate.”

The nine policy issues identified are:

• Access to Finance at the right level and at the right time is important to the development of women-led rural and farm innovation.
• Education and Skills Training opportunities should be better tailored to the needs of women-led rural and farm innovation.
• Women's Empowerment: Greater policy focus is needed to address barriers to equality between men and women and support women's participation in rural and farm innovation.
• Better Leverage of Digitalisation: Policy should better support women in agriculture and rural areas and use digitalisation to empower them.
• Improved Gender Inclusion in Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS): Services should better recognise women's needs and the gender-related impacts of AKIS interventions.
• CAP and Gender: Women should be recognised as equal partners across each element of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27, to incentivise and recognise their current and future roles and potential.
• Generational Renewal: Addressing the gender gap is part of the wider challenge of generational renewal and the future sustainability of Irish farming.
• Strengthening the Voice of Rural and Farm Women: Better representation of women in governance and decision-making is needed to improve gender equality.
• Work-Life Balance: Policy action is needed to support women balancing work, family and wider life demands.

 Dr Aisling Murtagh, co-researcher on the FLIARA project at University of Galway, said: "Women are already driving innovation across Irish farms and rural businesses, often without the recognition or support to let it flourish. These briefs give policymakers a concrete starting point for closing that gap."

 The recommendations draw on research and engagement with women farmers, rural innovators and other stakeholders throughout the FLIARA project, including case studies, policy assessment and future foresight research.

 Professor Farrell continued: "Combining foresight work, case studies and direct engagement with women farmers, we offer recommendations that are grounded and forward-looking, not a list of problems, but a roadmap for more inclusive agricultural policy.”

 The full report and nine policy briefs are available at: Ireland's FLIARA Policy Briefs  

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