Kontext

Digital and ecological transitions bring new challenges to European rural areas. One issue that has been overlooked is the contribution of traditionally rural women’s employment opportunities and innovation contributions. The EU-funded FLIARA project proposes a transdisciplinary, innovative methodology to improve understanding, awareness and recognition of women’s role in more sustainable rural regions. The project will develop suggestions for how policy and governance frameworks can effectively support and enhance women’s capacity. FLIARA will combine futures, case study methods, network building, and policy benchmarking to identify visions for sustainable farm and rural futures and the innovations required. The project will create a network of key stakeholders and carry out a campaign to promote women-led rural innovations.

Objectives

Key contemporary trends, such as climate change, gender inequalities and the COVID-19 pandemic, bring new challenges to European rural areas. Change also brings opportunities to foster more resilient, inclusive and sustainable rural regions, such as created by the digital and ecological transitions. However, there is a need for all individuals and communities to participate in rural innovation. Traditionally, however, rural women’s employment opportunities and contribution to innovation has been overshadowed, and often suppressed, by for example a patriarchal ethos. FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas) uniquely proposes a transdisciplinary, innovative methodology to improve understanding, awareness and recognition of women’s role in a more sustainable rural future, as well as develop proposals for how more effective policy and governance frameworks can support this and enhance women’s capacity to contribute to it. FLIARA will combine futures and case study methods, alongside network building and policy benchmarking, while being underpinned by a co-created conceptual and assessment framework. Using a unique foresight approach, FLIARA will identify visions for sustainable farm and rural futures and the sustainability innovations needed to realise these visions. Using a thematic case-study approach, project partners will investigate women-led innovations on farms and in wider rural areas looking at their pathways in the innovation ecosystem. Building on the power of social networks, a Community of Practice will be developed with women identified throughout the case studies networking alongside key innovation policy and governance stakeholders. The Community of Practice Network will occur in conjunction with a Campaign of Visibility for women-led rural innovations, spotlighting women as key innovation actors. Project outcomes will result in end-user ready resources, including policy proposals and practical tools supporting women-led innovation.

Activities

FLIARA offers a unique, transdisciplinary approach that combines foresight and case study methods, network building, and policy benchmarking. This approach enables the consortium to identify innovative and sustainable solutions for farming and rural areas that address present and future needs.

The project aims to identify visions for sustainable farm and rural futures and the sustainability innovations required to realize these visions. FLIARA recognizes women-led innovation as a crucial factor in achieving this goal and strives to empower women to take the lead.

To achieve this goal, FLIARA is building a Community of Practice that brings together women identified throughout the case studies and key innovation policy and governance stakeholders. The project believes that leveraging the power of social networks will create a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters innovation and sustainability.

FLIARA will also launch a Campaign of Visibility for women-led rural innovations to highlight women as key innovation actors. By sharing their stories and achievements, FLIARA hopes to inspire and empower other women to lead innovative practices in farming and rural areas.

Overall, FLIARA's project outcomes will include end-user ready resources, such as policy proposals and practical tools supporting women-led innovation, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future.