Nine policy priorities aim to make agri-innovation more inclusive for Irish women

# Why this matters Women are active in Irish farming and rural businesses but face persistent gaps in income, funding and recognition. The Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas (FLIARA) project has translated the lived experience of women farmers and rural innovators into a set of policy briefs aimed at changing that.

# What the research delivered The FLIARA team — led by University of Galway's Prof. Maura Farrell, with Longford Women's Link and Teagasc partners — produced a series of policy briefs that outline nine priority areas for policy action. The briefs were launched by MEP Maria Walsh and published during the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer.

# Concrete findings cited in the briefs

• Women account for 31% of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beneficiaries but received only 15% of CAP payments, while men made up 63% of beneficiaries and received 69% of funding.
• In 2023, female-run farms earned an average of €18,700 per worker, 42% less than male-run farms.

These figures provide the economic backdrop for the recommendations and underline gaps in access to funding and farm income.

# The nine policy priority areas The research groups its recommendations around nine areas where targeted change could make agri-innovation more inclusive:

• Finance: access to funding at the right level and timing to support women-led innovation.
• Skills and education: training opportunities tailored to the needs of women innovators in rural and farm settings.
• Digitalisation: better use of digital tools and policy support to empower women in agriculture and rural business.
• Gender inclusion in AKIS: agricultural knowledge and innovation systems should recognise gender-differentiated needs and impacts.
• Representation and voice: stronger participation of women in governance and decision-making bodies.
• Women's empowerment: targeted measures to remove barriers to equality and encourage participation in innovation.
• Work-life balance: policy supports to help women manage work, family and other responsibilities.
• CAP and gender: recognition of women as equal partners across CAP Strategic Plans 2023–27 to incentivise and recognise their roles.
• Generational renewal: addressing gender gaps as part of the broader challenge of succession and the future sustainability of farming.

# Who will receive the briefs Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Department of Rural and Community Development, local action groups, the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) and women's farming organisations.

# What the briefs aim to change The briefs translate participants' experiences into practical, policy-focused recommendations intended to move discussion into action. They call for aligned measures across finance, training, digital services and governance so women can lead and scale innovations on farms and in rural enterprises.

# Practical next steps signalled

# Bottom line FLIARA's policy briefs present a focused agenda: close measurable funding and income gaps, make training and digital supports fit women's needs, boost representation in decision-making and link gender action to CAP and generational renewal policies. The result would be a more even platform for women to innovate in Irish agriculture and rural businesses.