Brussels – The United Nations has designated 2026 the International Year of Women in Farming (IYWF 2026), and the European Commission has aligned itself with this initiative. Today (11 March), the EU executive announced the launch of a platform dedicated entirely to women in agriculture to promote women’s participation in the sector. The platform, called “Women in Farming Platform“, is an initiative that aims to strengthen the role of women in agriculture and promote equal opportunities in rural communities. The initiative is part of the European Union’s “Vision for agriculture and food“, a framework presented in February 2025 that ”
seeks to enable
the conditions to ensure that the agri-food sector thrives, innovates and continues benefiting society today, tomorrow and in 2040.”
To date, only 32 per cent of farms are led by women. This low number is due to several variables: age (female managers tend to be older: 41 per cent are over 65, compared to 32 per cent of male farmers who are over 65); type of farm (farms run by women mainly specialise in arable crops, permanent crops and mixed crops with livestock); levels of agricultural education (lower than their male counterparts: only 19 per cent have received basic training). The consequences of these conditions lead women to leave the sector, thus impacting gender percentages.
The EU Commission specifies that the platform’s main activity will be mentoring. Mentors share practical knowledge and create a mentoring network to challenge stereotypes, inspire young women, and normalise female leadership in agriculture. By presenting role models and promoting mentoring, the platform aims to build confidence, improve access to opportunities and ensure that women’s contributions are fully recognised.
Under the EU’s agricultural policy, Member States can now introduce targeted measures, including financial incentives, to support women farmers. The Commission is also improving data collection to take gender into account to enhance policy-making. In 2024 alone, 55,300 young women received support to start their own agricultural businesses and benefit from additional income support. “Women continue to be under-represented,” explains the Commission. Meanwhile, “a more equitable and inclusive agricultural sector is essential for the future of Europe,” it points out.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
