The Innovation Award for Women Farmers aims to highlight the contributions women make towards rural development, forestry, and farming. The Innovation Award for Women Farmers was first introduced in 2010 to shed a light on the hundreds of innovative projects conducted every year all over Europe by Women farmers. 2020 will mark the sixth edition of this Pan European competition developed by Copa-Cogeca, the voice of farmers and Agri-cooperatives at EU level. In 2018, we shortlisted over 30 projects.

This year’s edition is entitled “Women Farmers in the driver’s seat of climate innovation.” With EU agriculture and forestry playing an important role in enhancing economic, environmental, and social challenges. The untapped potential of empowering rural women and women farmers can contribute to boost rural entrepreneurship, self-employment, and innovation in European agriculture. Whilst women farmers represent 35% of EU’s agricultural workforce, only 30% assume the position of farm manager or owner whilst 80% of women are classified as the ‘holder’s spouse.’ Through this year’s award, we received 42 applications from across the EU member states, demonstrating how women farmers foster the development of new business models and their active role in tackling the biggest challenges in agricultural climate action.

 The Ceremony was hosted by MEP Evelyn Regner (S&D) and MEP Carmen Avram (S&D). The winner and special achievement award winner were announced by Maria Angeles Benitez Salas (DG Agri) and Peter Schmidt (President of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Section (NAT in EESC)). The winner in 1st place was Nazaret Mateos Alvarez from Spain, the 2nd place winner of the special achievement award was Immacolata Migliaccio from Italy! Congratulations to all our finalists and winners!