General

Nine European women entrepreneurs presented their projects at the 2nd GRASS CEILING Showcase Event held in Vilnius, Lithuania.

On November 26th, the second edition of the Grass Ceiling Showcase Event took place in Vilnius. It brought together women participants from the nine partner countries in the programme. This event was part of the AgriFood Lithuania 2024 Forum, Lithuania’s leading primary sector event, which attracted hundreds
of attendees. Positioning the Showcase Event within this programme was a significant achievement, as it showcased the project’s existence to the entire
Lithuanian primary sector and helped disseminate the success stories of the participating women widely.

The participants included Ines Dundović (Croatia), Karen Keane (Ireland), Annalisa Pellegrini (Italy), Justė Jankauskienė (Lithuania), Anita Rennemo Galåen (Norway), Aoife Gould (Scotland), Amada de Salas (Spain), Emma Hartelius (Sweden), and Irene Beukeveld-Evers (Netherlands). They explained their projects and challenges to the audience during a pitch session.

“Participating in events like this is very positive for me, as it allows me to meet entrepreneurial women from different fields, learn how they work, and share experiences,” said Anita Galåen, Farm CEO of Galåvolden Gård. (See bellow: Grass Ceiling Youtube channel)

“Grass Ceiling has been revolutionary for me. It has given me the confidence to trust in my project and turn it from a hobby into my livelihood,” shared Aoife Gould, a farmer from the Scottish Highlands with her sustainable project, Dun Flashadder Cottage Croft. (See bellow: Grass Ceiling Youtube channel)

The Showcase Event had a packed agenda. In addition to the various project pitches, the event hosted several talks where attendants from all countries discussed the main milestones and objectives of the project represented by the different Work Packages. Coordinators and academics leading each WP presented the latest findings in rural innovation, barriers to female entrepreneurship, and the content of the EU Policy Forum, which began on October 7th and has included the organisation of various workshops throughout the project’s duration.

“The main conclusion we have drawn is the importance of empowering these women through various means, such as education, access to funding, and training,” said Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė, Director of AgriFood Lithuania and host of the event.

“Women are taking significant steps in the primary sector and making a great contribution to rural communities,” concluded Branwen, co-organiser of the event and Senior Policy Advisor at Copa-Cogeca.

Karen Keane (Ireland)
Aoife Gould (Scotland)
Ines Dundović (Croatia) and Emma Hartelius (Sweden)
Anita Rennemo Galåen (Norway)
Amada de Salas (Spain)
Justė Jankauskienė (Lithuania)
Annalisa Pellegrini (Italy)
Irene Beukeveld-Evers (The Netherlands)

Nine European women entrepreneurs presented their projects at the 2nd GRASS CEILING Showcase Event held in Vilnius, Lithuania. Read More »

Marta Llorente, participant in the Spanish GRASS CEILING living lab, wins female entrepreneur of the year at El Norte de Castilla Rural Awards

Marta Llorente, a pig farmer from Zazuar in Burgos and one of eight participants in the Spanish Living Lab of the GRASS CEILING project has been named Female Entrepreneur of the Year  at the 2024 El Norte de Castilla Rural Awards. The awards, which recognise achievements across six categories, are organised by El Norte de Castilla, one of Spain’s leading regional newspapers.

In her acceptance speech, Marta reflected on the challenges and rewards of her decision to leave Madrid and return to her family’s village. “Many people have called me brave for venturing into the primary sector, leaving the city to return to rural Burgos. But I believe that real bravery lies with everyone who commits to this work – it’s not just a job; it’s a way of life. All of those who live in rural areas and know how to recover from adversity are brave”.

The awards jury praised this rural entrepreneur for balancing her livestock business with the management of a 70-hectare extensive crop farm, with more than 20 hectares of vineyards. They also praised Marta for her outreach through social media and her commitment to making the work of rural women visible.

With a degree in Administration and Finance, Llorente left Madrid to settle in Zazuar and after becoming a mother took over her parents’ land. She began with viticulture before training to run a pig-fattening farm, an unconventional role for a woman in the livestock industry. But Marta achieved it through her determination.

During the ceremony she highlighted the administrative obstacles that women farmers have to overcome. She criticised the excessive bureaucracy imposed on farms which, she said “reduces our productive capacity”. Looking to the future, she stressed the importance of focusing on quality and achieving sustainable growth for her business.

Marta concluded her acceptance speech with a broader message for society, urging people to continue to appreciate the dedication of the crop and livestock farmers “that fill our tables with healthy, safe and wholesome products. The Spanish countryside is the best guarantee of food security,” she said.

This year’s El Norte de Castilla Rural Awards coincide with the newspaper’s 170th anniversary. Among the winners was an affiliate of GRASS CEILING – the Regional Union of Cooperatives of Castilla y León URCACYL, that participate in the project through our partner Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España.

URCACYL received the Miguel Delibes Rural Development Award in recognition of its support of the cooperative sector, its work with the administration, industry, and other stakeholders, as well as its promotion of a social economy model that strengthens rural development and the economy of the region.

To follow Marta Llorente on social media: X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin

Copyright of the photographs from the Rural Awards gala belongs to El Norte de Castilla. Copyright of the photographs of Marta Llorente and her farm belongs to Marta Llorente.

Marta Llorente, participant in the Spanish GRASS CEILING living lab, wins female entrepreneur of the year at El Norte de Castilla Rural Awards Read More »

Raffaella Bucci

GRASS CEILING project: Empowering and innovating women in rural areas, disseminated in Italy by our local partners

The unique journey of the Grass Ceiling Project was presented last week at an event organised by CREA’s Center for Policy and Bioeconomics, in collaboration with the University of Bari and the University of Calabria. The meeting highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary vision to tackle the challenges related to social sustainability in agriculture, with a special focus on gender issues.

In her speech, Raffaella Bucci, a representative of the Biodistretto delle lame which collaborates in the implementation of the activities, together with the two co-leads Legacoop Puglia and Ciheam Bari, explained how the Living Lab, as a collective learning laboratory, has been crucial in supporting the eight participants from different backgrounds (from agricultural producers to female entrepreneurs and cultural workers). She stated: “The Living Lab represents a unique space for discussion and growth, where participants share experiences and challenges and also create innovative solutions to improve the area”.

The project has helped strengthen ties and collaborations that go far beyond the duration of the project itself. A concrete example of this continuity is a new project promoted by the Municipality of Ruvo di Puglia, a kind of spin off involving GRASS CEILING partipants with the goal of creating a connection between the countryside and the city, in order to strengthen the link between rural areas and urban centres.

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Vilnius (Lithuania) hosts the second annual GRASS CEILING consortium meeting

A key consortium meeting of the Grass Ceiling project took place in Vilnius, Lithuania. Bringing together representatives from all nine partner countries, the meeting provided an opportunity to review project activities and discuss future plans for each work package.

The meeting was part of a broader work trip to Lithuania, as the day before, the project held its second Showcase Event as part of the agenda of Agri Food Lithuania 2024. During the Showcase, nine women participants from each partner country presented their business projects and received professional and academic feedback. These women participated in the Consortium Meeting, enriching the resulting debates and learning about the project’s conclusions and results.https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBURAb

The purpose of the consortium meeting was to present, discuss, and update the progress of the overall project, focusing on the status of each Work Package. Sally Shortall, the project’s general coordinator from Newcastle University, facilitated the meeting: Grass Ceiling is a play on ‘glass ceiling,’ and the objective is to assist rural and farm women in achieving equality in leading socio-ecological innovations across Europe, Shortall said.

In total, the meeting reviewed the seven Work Packages of the project, with a particular focus on Work Package 6: Online Training Academy and MOOC Modules Workshop, where Laura Quijano, from CIHEAM Zaragoza (Spain) presented the progress and proposed a work plan for the learning platform. This platform will include academic and scientific resources in various formats, such as presentations and training videos.

Professor Shortall highlighted at the end of the meeting that the main goal of the project is to be able to conduct a comparative analysis of the situation in the different participating countries: “so it’s very helpful to see how policies operate in one country differently to another”. The GRASS CEILING coordinator emphasized that “the European Commission can assume that there is a perfectly matched national document that is implementing their policies”, and used the example of the Common Agricultural Policy, where each country has its own national plan, but it isn’t the case for the Green Deal or Farm to Fork strategy: “while there is an assumption that these are being translated at the national level, that is not always the case. This may be one of the most important findings that our project has shown.”

Finally, Sally Shortall emphasized the need to collaborate with men to understand how they socialize in environments where women are absent and they do not perceive this as an issue, “while they’re missing out on an understanding of half the population”, Shortall concluded.

GRASS CEILING will carry on throughout 2025, advancing its research, overseeing the Living Labs involving 72 women across 9 European nations. The project will also highlight the development of these women’s entrepreneurial ventures, all of which are centred around female empowerment in rural areas and territorial conservation.

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GRASS CEILING Irish Living Labs end 2024 on a high note

Ireland’s 6th Living Lab and the final session of 2024 took place in the GrowthHub at South East Technological University Waterford campus on December 4th.

Lab participants were first invited to a Business Breakfast Seminar on the theme of “innovation in micro firms,” where three local entrepreneurs shared experiences of their innovation journeys, followed by a lively Q&A session where challenges faced, lessons learned and opportunities for development were discussed.

In the Lab session itself GRASS CEILING project leader, Professor Sally Shortall, brought participants up to date on progress made in GRASS CEILING and the findings emerging across the different work packages. Led by Dr Leana Reinl, the women innovators told of their progress during 2024 which included prizes won, internationalisation projects and an exciting development for the group’s (no longer) aspirating entrepreneur.

Conversations continued over lunch with lab partner Macra Na Ferime at the award-winning Momo restaurant in Waterford city where plans for 2025 were shared. This brought to a conclusion a very successful 2024 for the Irish living Labs and the women innovators involved.

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Rural women take center stage at GRASS CEILING showcase in Vilnius

The GRASS CEILING Project consortium is excited to announce its participation in AgriFood Lithuania 2024. The event will serve as the backdrop for the project’s second Showcase event, highlighting the remarkable achievements of its first year.



Showcase and Consortium Meeting. The annual Showcase event will take place on 26th November, followed by the 3rd Consortium meeting on 27th November. The Showcase will offer a platform to inform partners and external stakeholders about the project’s progress, including key deliverables and the pivotal role of Living Labs. Here you will find the agenda for this event.

Spotlight on Women Entrepreneurs. A particular highlight of the event will be the inspiring stories of nine women entrepreneurs participating in national Living Labs. These women will share their entrepreneurial journeys, goals, and how their involvement in the Living Lab is supporting their aspirations. Participants include Ines Dundovic (Croatia), Karen Keane (Ireland), Annalisa Pellegrini (Italia), Juste Jankauskiene (Lithuania), Anita Rennemo Galaen (Scotland), Aoife Gould (Scotland), Amada de Salas (Spain), Emma Hartelius (Sweden), and Irene Beukeveld-Evers (Netherlands).

Project Results and Future Directions GRASS CEILING will also present findings from various work packages. Topics include:

The consortium meeting on 27th November will delve deeper into the project’s work plan, with a special focus on the Online Training Academy and MOOC modules workshop, led by Laura Quijano from CIHEAM Zaragoza.

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GRASS CEILING to spark discussion on empowering rural women and agricultural innovation at SERIGO event

The GRASS CEILING project will be a key focus point in a panel discussion organised by the SERIGO project. The panel will explore “Multistakeholder collaboration for innovation and inclusion of vulnerable communities.”

Blanca Casares, a Policy Expert for Horizon 2020 and Europe projects and a member of AEIDL, a partner in the GRASS CEILING project, will discuss how the project empowers rural women and fosters innovation in agriculture, rural economy, and rural communities. She will also highlight policy considerations to support these initiatives.

The panel will be moderated by Patricia Martínez (AEIDL) and will feature Sonia Marcos from the University of Burgos (coordinator of the ESIRA multi-actor platform) and Maura Farrell from the University of Galway (lead coordinator of the FLIARA CoP).

The virtual event will take place on 21st November from 1pm to 2pm. The SERIGO Horizon Europe project is conducting community-based research, fostering collaborations, and providing policy recommendations to enhance resilience, social inclusion, and well-being in European rural areas through social innovation.

To register for the webinar and view the agenda, click here.

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From Law to olive groves: Birgit Boljun’s journey of tradition, passion and empowerment from the Living Lab of the GRASS CEILING project

Birgit is a dynamic, determined woman from Istria, with a diverse background that spans law, business, and agriculture. Until recently, Birgit worked as a lawyer, while managing a successful security company with a team of 110 employees, predominantly men. However, her true passion lays elsewhere—olive growing, a hobby she inherited from her grandmother.

For Birgit, olive growing is a way to honour her grandmother’s legacy and preserve a piece of Istrian culture. It represents sustainability, tradition, and a personal commitment to cultivating something lasting and meaningful. Through her dedication to the craft, Birgit found a new passion, one that is as rich and enduring as the olive oil she produces.

After receiving a grant for young farmers through the Rural Development Programme, Birgit made the decision to transform her hobby into a full-fledged profession. Birgit had no formal background in agriculture, but her determination fuelled her to dive into the world of olive growing with full commitment. She sought out mentors, attended workshops, and learned everything from the science of soil health to the art of producing high-quality olive oil. Every step along the way was a learning process, but one Birgit embraced with enthusiasm.

Despite facing scepticism and derogatory remarks about women working in agriculture, Birgit never wavered.

Today, Birgit proudly identifies as a passionate advocate for justice, equality, animal rights, and women’s empowerment. She embodies the spirit of resilience.

The GRASS CEILING project is helping Birgit expand her network of Croatian women entrepreneurs. She’s also gaining valuable insights and knowledge that will undoubtedly support the growth of her olive tree business.

From Law to olive groves: Birgit Boljun’s journey of tradition, passion and empowerment from the Living Lab of the GRASS CEILING project Read More »

Legacoop Puglia presented the GRASS CEILING project at the 2024 Sustainability Report of Legacoop, in Rome

On September 25 in Rome, Legacoop’s national organization presented its new Sustainability Report 2024, a key tool for charting the path to a more sustainable and inclusive future. This year’s edition was enriched with specific tools and useful guidance for the entire cooperative ecosystem, encouraging active and informed participation by cooperatives.

On this occasion, Legacoop Puglia, the regional branch of Legacoop, proudly presented the “GRASS CEILING” project, an initiative created to promote gender equality and equal opportunities in the agricultural sector.

The project aims to break down invisible barriers that limit women’s access to leadership roles by creating opportunities for training and growth.

A big step towards a more equitable and sustainable society!

Legacoop Puglia presented the GRASS CEILING project at the 2024 Sustainability Report of Legacoop, in Rome Read More »

Spanish women farmers left out: work-life balance and transparency issues hinder their leadership roles in agrarian cooperatives

Spanish GRASS CEILING Living Lab organized a new workshop as a dialogue forum among women farmers and other agri-food actors. This event highlighted the lack of access of women to management positions in cooperatives, as well as their position on the CAP’s policies.

The University of Valladolid’s Palencia Campus, as academic co-leader, and Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España, as practical co-leader of the European GRASS CEILING Project, have jointly organized the workshop “Dialogues with Women Farmers: Cooperatives and the Common Agricultural Policy”, at the headquarters of the Agropal Agri-Food Cooperative in Palencia (Spain).

This event served as a forum for reflection and dialogue, bringing together women farmers participating in the project with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The main objective was to delve into the challenges facing rural areas and the agricultural sector, emphasizing the role of women as drivers of rural development and generational renewal within the cooperative movement and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The workshop aimed to strengthen knowledge and promote best practices with a gender perspective. The event focused on the women participating in the Spanish Living Lab as the primary protagonists of the Grass Ceiling Project.

The event was opened by Margarita Rico, professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering (University of Valladolid’s Palencia Campus) and Spanish project coordinator, Julia Gómez, deputy director of AGROPAL, and Ángel María Gómez Rivero, director general of the Common Agricultural Policy of the Regional Government in Castilla y León.

The first panel discussion focused on participation and decision-making within agri-food cooperatives. Moderated by Ana de Coca of URCACYL, the panel included Jerónima Bonafé, member of the governing council of Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de España and president of AMCAE (Association of Women in Agri-food Cooperatives of Spain), Javier Narváez, secretary of the governing council of URCACYL, Amada de Salas, winegrower and winemaker in Dueñas (Palencia), and Lucía Velasco, transhumant cattle farmer in Asturias. The debate centered on the underrepresentation of women in cooperative governing boards and the underlying causes, such as limited time availability due to work-life balance challenges and lack of transparency.

The second panel discussion, moderated by Tomás García Azcárate, a researcher at the CSIC, examined the role of women in the new Common Agricultural Policy. Participants included Nuria Ruiz, manager of ASAJA Castilla y León, Ángel María Gómez Rivero, Marta Llorente, pig farmer and winegrower in Zazuar (Burgos), and Silvia González, farmer from Villaconancio (Palencia). The panel discussed critical aspects of the new CAP and broader challenges facing the sector, including increased bureaucracy, an aging rural population, and a lack of generational renewal.

Amalia Rodríguez, professor at the Faculty of Commerce and Labor Relations-Palencia (University of Valladolid), and Jerónima Bonafé delivered the closing remarks. They emphasized the need for greater visibility of women farmers and their proportional representation in decision-making bodies. The importance of gathering the experiences of rural women and creating spaces for dialogue was also highlighted.

The meeting served to strengthen the network established through the project and to deepen discussions on key issues facing the agricultural sector.

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