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.
