CIHEAM Zaragoza, a Spanish partner of GRASS CEILING, is organising a Symposium on Women’s Empowerment through Innovation in Mediterranean Agro-food Systems

Zaragoza will host from 10 to12 June the International Symposium “Women’s Empowerment through Innovation in Mediterranean Agro-food Systems.”

Organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the CIHEAM General Secretariat and with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), this scientific, technical, and professional event will bring together representatives from FAO, IFAD, OECD, the European Commission, ICARDA, IWMI, PRIMA, Global Water Partnership Med, as well as actors from civil society, the private sector, and the field of innovation. (Register here)

This international meeting will feature a strong representation from the GRASS CEILING project.

Firstly, Alun Jones from CIHEAM Zaragoza and Patrizia Pugliese from CIHEAM Bari will be acting as rapporteurs in two of the working sessions. Furthermore, Professor Margarita Rico, from the Palencia Campus of the University of Valladolid, another of the Spanish partner organisations in the project, will be participating in the session on ‘Needs in education and economic issues for women’s empowerment and innovation‘. Finally, Professor Sally Shortall from South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, and the coordinator of the GRASS CEILING project, will be speaking during the session dedicated to the reading of the event’s conclusions, which will take place on the 11th of June.

Against a backdrop of climate challenges, resource scarcity and the need to feed a growing population, this symposium aims to explore the crucial role of women in transforming Mediterranean agrifood systems towards greater sustainability and equity. Recognising women as key players in these systems, the event will highlight their essential contributions to the inclusion, resilience and prosperity of communities. It aims to be a catalyst for concrete solutions to empower women.

Key objectives of the symposium

• To identify and examine the main obstacles encountered by women in entrepreneurship and innovation in agricultural and rural contexts, in order to develop innovative and sustainable projects
• Analyse international and national work programmes aimed at stimulating women-led innovation ecosystems
• Strengthening alliances between international organisations, public institutions, civil society and the private sector to influence innovation through cooperation

A rich and diverse programme focused on solutions

The symposium will offer a comprehensive and dynamic programme, firmly focused on identifying and promoting effective solutions for empowering women in the Mediterranean agri-food sector. It will include:

• Plenary conferences with high-level experts from international and national organisations, including FAO, IFAD, OECD, European Commission, ICARDA, IWMI, as well as leading representatives from civil society and the business world.
• Round tables addressing the major challenges facing women in the Mediterranean agrifood sector, as well as the educational, economic and access to resources needs to empower them.
• Case studies highlighting inspiring examples of women’s empowerment and innovation in the agrifood sector in Spain and the Mediterranean region, with a particular focus on initiatives led by women entrepreneurs.
• An interactive workshop dedicated to social and technological innovation for women entrepreneurs in the agrifood value chain. This workshop will provide a forum for presenting innovative solutions, sharing experiences and networking, including a pitch session where entrepreneurial initiatives led by women will be highlighted.
• Field trips to discover local initiatives led by women, offering concrete examples of success and impact, and illustrating the potential of women as agents of change in their communities.

A call for cooperation and action to find concrete solutions

This symposium is intended to be a catalyst for cooperation and action, promoting dialogue and partnerships between all the players involved. By bringing together key players from the public and private sectors, international organisations, research institutions, representatives of civil society, entrepreneurs and professionals, the event aims to strengthen synergies and promote concrete, sustainable solutions for the empowerment of women and innovation in Mediterranean agrifood systems.

About the Symposium