GRASS CEILING – Session on public policy initiatives supporting rural women and farmers

The Horizon Europe project GRASS CEILING aims to create an environment where women can drive socio-ecological transitions by developing innovations in response to socio-ecological challenges, thereby strengthening the resilience of rural areas.

AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development) leads the work package on co-creation of recommendations and tools for policy and knowledge and innovation systems that boost women’s role in the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas.

In collaboration with Copa-Cogeca, AEIDL facilitates the online European Policy Forum for women-led innovation in agriculture and rural areas which plays a key role in pushing for change and increase women-led socio-ecological innovations in farming, the rural economy and in rural communities. .

After the launching session in October, the session planned on 24 March 2025 from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm (CET) seeks to showcase and examine existing good practices of gender mainstreaming of public support in Member States, identified through the project, in particular with civil servants responsible for schemes related to supporting women in agriculture and rural areas within the frameworks of CAP, cohesion policy, green and digital transitions, among others.

Additionally, the session aims to delve into the factors contributing to the success of these practices and explore the potential for a systemic approach to their design, implementation, and monitoring in the upcoming programming period post-2027.

It will be organised around the publication of the Vision for Agriculture and Food and the Roadmap for women’s rights.