To mark International Women’s Day, the European Commission has launched theWomen in Farming platform,a new initiative designed to empower women in agriculture and strengthen equal opportunities in this sector and in rural communities. Announced in the Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food last year, its aim is to help increase the number of women participating in agricultural businesses, promote exchange and cooperation, and encourage the sharing of good practices. This launch is particularly timely, as the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Women in Agriculture.
Women play a crucial role in European agriculture, often driving innovation, sustainability and diversification in rural economies. However, they remain under-represented. Currently, only 32% of farms in the EU are managed by women, and only 3% of these are managed by women under the age of 40. Women working in agriculture continue to face structural barriers to accessing land, finance, training and resources.
The new platform seeks to ensure that women’s contributions are recognised. It will support national mentoring programmes and the exchange of good practices between EU countries, including cross-border mentoring. It will encourage networking among women farmers, highlight successful projects from which others can learn, and bring practical and participatory experiences to national and EU policy-making. By developing a strong mentoring culture and network, the platform seeks to empower women in agriculture, boost their confidence and strengthen their ability to thrive within and beyond their national contexts.
In addition, the new platform will highlight model women farmers. Visibility changes mindsets, and agriculture has long been considered a male-dominated sector. Showcasing successful women challenges that stereotype and normalises female leadership in agriculture. When young women see others managing farms, innovating and leading rural businesses, it becomes easier for them to imagine themselves in those roles.
By recognising the role women play in the agricultural sector, we are not only celebrating success; we are helping to normalise women’s leadership and strengthen the future resilience of the agricultural sector.
It will also support the alignment of EU agricultural and rural development policies with the Union’s commitments on gender equality, strengthen rural communities and boost generational renewal.
In practice, the current Common Agricultural Policy explicitly promotes women’s participation in agriculture and the rural economy. Member States now have greater scope to introduce specific measures, including increased financial support, for women farmers. At the same time, we are improving the collection of gender-disaggregated data, as better quality data means better evidence-based policy-making. In 2024 alone, 55,300 young women received support to set up their own agricultural businesses and benefit from additional financial aid.
Europe’s agricultural future must be inclusive, progressive and based on equal opportunities. Discover theWomen in Farming Platformand how to apply.
More information: European Commission.
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