Netherlands

The Dutch Grass Ceiling Living Lab met together on 23^rd May. The whole day was joyful. The women were so pleased to see one another and to be visiting the farm of one of the participants, Irene Beukeveld – to see her plans come true in ‘real life’. The group was joined by an extra academic lead who had only met a couple of the women earlier, but was wholeheartedly welcome. The film crew from Spain were also present the whole day and fit in easily. It was of course just a coincidence that the whole group had turned up looking splendid!    

The morning began with the usual updates. Many people remarked on the progress that had been made by everyone within the last three years. To have the opportunity to stand still and look back at the beginning of the project was empowering and gave the women a chance to be proud of their achievements, but mostly for one another. The rest of the morning was lead by one of the talented participants, Lonieke de Ruiter, who gave a workshop on Canva and how to use this for your branding. She is herself working with two of the other innovators and used some of this as examples which was extra special.

Meanwhile, the innovators were interviewed individually by the film crew for a series representing all the women participation in the Living Labs across the nice countries. They all did wonderfully and their own stories and experience shone out. These videos will be released after the summer. The group photo is credited to Álvaro Sancho from Giste Producciones.

The afternoon was filled with the focus group as part of the research into the how the Living Labs worked. It was an emotional time with lots of reflection and looking back at how far everyone had come. A big conversation was about how to go forward once this trajectory has stopped. There is a genuine bond between the women and the co-leads/observers. Huge support has been exchanged over the 2.5 years so far and we are all invested in each project to see it succeed.

An interesting question is: How did this group become so strong? Is there a magic formula? We discussed this and whilst reasons such as connection, honesty and support were key, an important aspect was that of vulnerability. The women themselves created a space where they could be vulnerable, they could share new ideas, they could share failures. All without fear of being judged. This is something that everyone should have.

The day finished in the best possible way, eating an ice-cream and touring the farm and new kitchen from Irene. The weather was not favourable, but this did not taint it at all, in fact many were happy it was raining finally! Last year, fellow innovator, Petra Commijs, had shared her extensive ice-cream making knowledge with Irene and she was proudly served a taste-plate with different flavours for her approval, which was of course forthcoming with enthusiasm. This was a special moment and a full-circle example of the innovative projects that the Living Labs have enabled.

Wat is de kracht van de vrouwelijke agrarisch ondernemer in de nabije toekomst?

Die vraag stond centraal tijdens de jaarlijkse netwerkdag van LTO Noord Vrouw & Bedrijf. Vrijdag 4 april 2025 was een dag vol inspiratie, interactie en ontmoeting. Met als doel het opdoen van kennis en samen nadenken over de toekomst. Bettina Bock (bijzonder hoogleraar inclusieve plattelandsontwikkeling) en Marloes van Schaik (melkveehoudster en strategisch beleidsadviseur Multifunctionele Landbouw) verzorgden een workshop over vrouwelijk leiderschap en Grass Ceiling project.

Het thema van de netwerkdag werd uitgewerkt in vijf inspirerende workshops.

Bettina Bock en Marloes van Schaik zochten met de deelnemers op een actieve manier naar de sleutel van vrouwelijk leiderschap en wat vrouwen nodig hebben om hun boerinnenkracht optimaal in te zetten. In twee workshoprondes is opgehaald wat agrarische vrouwen al aan vrijwilligerswerk doen, wat hen hierin motiveert en wat hen juist belemmert. Bij het bespreken leverde dat veel herkenning op. Er was discussie over het wel of niet inzetten van een KPI (% vrouwen in het bestuur) en hoe een vacaturetekst opgezet zou moeten worden om vooral vrouwen te kunnen aanspreken.

Vervolgens vertelde Marloes als deelneemster aan de living lab van Grass Ceiling over haar onderwerp; meer vrouwen in agrarische besturen. Bettina sloot af met een presentatie over de opzet van het project en de stand van zaken rondom de kennis over vrouwelijk ondernemerschap. Met in beide workshops ook de vraag of Grass Ceiling een vervolg gaat krijgen. Want er waren meerdere geïnteresseerden. We kijken terug op een waardevolle dag!

What is the strength of female agricultural entrepreneurs in the immediate future?

That question was central during the annual networking day of LTO Noord Vrouw & Bedrijf (LTO North Women & Business). Friday, 4 April  2025, was a day full of inspiration, interaction, and connections. The goal was to gain knowledge and think about the future together. Bettina Bock (professor of inclusive rural development) and Marloes van Schaik (dairy farmer and strategic policy advisor for Multifunctional Agriculture) led a workshop on female leadership and the GRASS CEILING project.

The theme of the networking day was explored in five inspiring workshops.

Bettina Bock and Marloes van Schaik actively sought the key to female leadership with the participants and what women need to make the most of their strength as female farmers. In two rounds of workshops, the participants discussed what agricultural women already do in terms of volunteer work, what motivates them, and what holds them back. This sparked strong recognition and resonance among participants during the discussion. They debated about whether to use KPIs (% of women on the board) and how a job vacancy should be worded in order to appeal to women in particular.

Marloes, a participant in the GRASS CEILING Living Lab, then spoke about her topic: how to get more women on agricultural boards. Bettina concluded with a presentation on the structure of the project and the current state of knowledge about female entrepreneurship. Both workshops also addressed the question of whether GRASS CEILING will be continued, as there were several interested parties. It was a valuable day!

As a festive prelude to International Women’s Day, an inspiring event was held on Friday, March 7th by the Women & Food Network at the Provincial House in Den Bosch the Netherlands. This year’s theme was Woman of the Future — a powerful invitation to reflect on the role of women in the food transition, agriculture and nature, both now and in the future.

The Dutch GRASS CEILING team was proudly present in large numbers at the event — not only as participants, but also with two impactful workshops led by women from our network, each embodying the theme in their own unique way.

Sonja vhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sonjavanuden/an Uden led an in-depth workshop on finding a sustainable balance between people and nature. With her knowledge and experience, she demonstrated how essential it is for women in this field to make their voices heard and to build a livable future through connection and care.

Dorieke Goodijk-Smits hosted a session on female leadership in the agricultural sector. How can women ‘flourish’ in their roles? Which experiences and knowledge from the past can help them in the future? With practical insights and engaging discussions, she inspired other women to claim and embrace their place.

The event also provided a valuable opportunity to broaden the search for connection — even when perspectives differ within the agricultural sector and rural areas. The open conversations and shared experiences highlighted how important it is, just like within the Grass Ceiling project, to remain in dialogue and to build bridges within a diverse network.

The event was a powerful reminder that the future is full of female influences — and that we are shaping that future together. The Dutch GRASS CEILING participants look back with pride on this day full of connection, reflection, and forward-thinking.

Wageningen University has published an article highlighting the persistent exclusion of women from agriculture in the European Union, despite their critical role in the sector’s sustainability and innovation. The full article can be read here

Bettina Bock and Valentina C. Materia, both active members of the GRASS CEILING project consortium, as well as Jessica Duncan, member of the SWIFT project, have contributed to research at Wageningen University revealing that female farmers continue to face ingrained gender stereotypes. These biases limit their access to funding, land, and formal recognition. While women play a crucial role in agro-ecological systems and social innovation, their contributions are often undervalued, whereas policy and investment continue to favour technological innovations and large-scale agricultural models.

Professors Bettina Bock and Jessica Duncan further emphasise that gender stereotypes persist in agricultural policies, restricting women’s access to land, financing, and recognition. Bock highlights that women are leading the way in agro-ecological practices and short supply chains, both of which are essential for sustainability.

Valentina C. Materia points out that male-biased entrepreneurial stereotypes often overshadow the social and community innovations led by women. Her research demonstrates that despite their resilience and remarkable capacity for driving sustainable change, women’s contributions are frequently overlooked.

Recognising these challenges, Bock and Materia are developing networks and training programmes aimed at empowering female farmers. Their initiatives acknowledge the diverse motivations of women in agriculture and their significant contributions to the rural economy, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.

The article highlights that GRASS CEILING advocates for reforming the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to explicitly include gender equality and recognise the value of women-led social innovations. It calls for prioritising gender equality in national strategies, integrating a gender perspective into policies, and providing targeted financial support and training for female farmers.

Beyond economic contributions, the article underlines the role of women in strengthening social cohesion and enhancing the liveability of rural communities. It also calls for greater recognition and support of their multifaceted motivations, which include economic, social, and environmental goals, to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector.

In summary, the article points to the urgent need to challenge gender stereotypes, promote inclusive policies, and fully recognise the role of women in shaping the future of European agriculture.

The seventh Dutch Living Lab took place on Friday 7^th February 2025 at Kamelenmelkerij Smits – the camel farm owned by Living Lab innovator, Dorieke and her husband. More specifically, they farm dromedaries, which are one-humped camels, for their milk. As the women were exchanging warm greetings with one another, it was striking to see how much contact they are having outside the Living Labs, not only following one another’s social media update, but also sharing skills and advice.

The majority of this Lab was led by stakeholder Petra Bernhard, who guided us through a workshop to identify our own qualities, competencies and values. The idea for this training had been sparked by one of the innovators questioning her role and identity as a female farmer. What was so special was that this group of women have established a sincere openness with one another. They weren’t afraid to be vulnerable, and trusted one another. There were several exercises that involved self-reflection, but also a chance to pick out qualities from others. Lovely surprises came out of this, as many of the innovators were blind to their strengths, which were seen by others, or considered certain qualities a weakness, whereas others viewed them as a strength.

Perhaps the most relevant aspect for Grass Ceiling was the discussion around Leadership – what makes a good leader? It was especially inspiring to see those who did not consider themselves to be leaders being identified as such by others in the group. We often associate leadership with masculine qualities of strength and directness, but it became clear that qualities such as support, empathy, inspiration and others, usually seen as feminine qualities, were as important, if not more so, in a leader.

Whilst this Living Lab had little theoretical training involved, mingling with other innovators was incredibly valuable. The rest of the day was spent sharing updates on progress and planning for the last two Living Labs left this year – there is already a melancholy at the thought that this will one day end. The final part of the agenda gave another innovator (Albertine) a chance to practice her presentation for Jonge Agrarische Talent. She was great, and doing this in front of such a safe and supportive audience hugely increased her confidence. The feedback afterwards was loaded with positivity and genuine support as everyone wanted her to succeed. To have such a cheerleading group is empowering.

We finished with a tour of the farm. This was the first visit to a participating innovator’s place of work and there was such joy and interest from all! The camel calves skipped around as we got an insight into the challenges and opportunities that running a farm brings. And we left with chocolate made from their camels’ milk, as a cherry on top of another successful and inspiring Living Lab day.