35 winning examples of innovative women farmers
The 5th Innovation Award for Women Farmers was held on October 15th in Brussels by Copa with the support of the Austrian Presidency, DG Agri and sponsored by AnimalhealthEurope. This biennial award organised on the International Day of Rural women, aims at highlighting innovative projects carried out by European women involved in farming and/or the forestry sector.
30% of European farms are now managed by women. When women are involved in agriculture, they introduce innovative concepts and practices, crucial for developing dynamic rural communities. The 35 projects promoted by the “Innovation Award for Women Farmers 2018” are proof of such innovativeness from across the EU.
Commenting on the competition, Lotta Folkesson, Chairwomen of COPA’s Women Committee, said; “This edition was full of exciting and diversified projects that are evidence of the benefits that empowering women brings to rural areas, farming, the economy and society as a whole. It is clear that agriculture needs more women!”
From the 35 eligible applications, the 5 most innovative were presented in the award giving ceremony which was hosted by Mr. Maurizio Reale (EESC) and MEP Czes?aw Siekierski (Chair of COMAGRI):
-Magdalena Wegiel (Poland) won the competition with an aquaculture project “Trout Ojcowski” in the Ojcowski natural park restoring brown trout breeding.
-Sandra Quarantini (Italy) won the special achievement award with a start-up project “Colour Off” for organic growing and processing dyeing on natural fibres.
-Easy baking and cooking with Christina by Christina Bauer (Austria)
-Marguer’Ice by Nienke Koumans (France)
-Care farm by Judy Kerkhofs-Roozen (The Netherlands)
Commenting on the award, Wijnand de Bruijn, AnimalhealthEurope President, said, “By sponsoring this award we demonstrate our support for the innovative approaches taken by women farmers in the name of agricultural diversification.”
Download the presentation of the 35 projects presented during the “Innovation Award for Women Farmers 2018” HERE
For further information, please contact:
Marta Rosa
Senior Policy Advisor Tel.: +32 2 287 27 28
Jean-Baptiste Boucher Communications Director Mobile: + 32 474 840 836
Jean-baptiste.boucher@copa-cogeca.eu
Clare Carlisle
Communications Manager T : +32 2 543 75 88