• “Women don’t just work the land; they transform it and anchor rural populations”. These were the words of Begoña García Bernal, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food during the inauguration of the symposium organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in partnership CIHEAM General Secretariat, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

• Despite notable progress over the last ten years, significant challenges remain in empowering women and reinforcing their participation in Mediterranean agro-food systems.

Zaragoza, 10 June 2025.- The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies in Spain (CIHEAM Zaragoza) and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the collaboration of CIHEAM General Secretariat and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), are organising the International Symposium “Women’s Empowerment through Innovation in Mediterranean Agro-Food Systems” from 10 to 12 June in Zaragoza.

Women play a fundamental role in Mediterranean agro-food systems, being actively involved in agriculture, fisheries, and rural development, and generating essential economic activity in many areas of the region. Even though significant progress has been made in the last decade, there is still much work to be done to empower women and strengthen their engagement in these sectors.

In this context, the symposium seeks to analyse and define strategies to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among rural women in the region. The event has brought together representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Spanish cooperation system, international organisations (FAO, OECD, European Commission, EESC, PRIMA, ICARDA, IWMI, GWP-Med), academia, civil society, and private sector stakeholders across the Mediterranean.

Current situation of women as entrepreneurs and innovators

In her opening speech, Begoña García Bernal, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, highlighted that young women are opening new paths through sustainable production models and cooperatives, closely tied to their territories. “They don’t just work the land; they transform it and anchor populations”.

She emphasised the shift underway in rural Spain: “Despite the barriers, women are showing that a more sustainable, innovative and equal future is possible”.

Raúl Compés, Director of CIHEAM Zaragoza, drew attention to the positive impact that female entrepreneurship has on their communities. “It boosts women’s financial independence, strengthens their leadership in the development of the community and drives sustainable business practices. Women entrepreneurs often reinvest in their families and their communities, creating ripple effects on education, health and resilience”. Echoing this statement, Frida Krifca, President of CIHEAM’s Governing Board, stressed the indispensable role of women in sustainable development: “Without the participation of women, there can be no sustainable development, no food security, and no inclusive innovation”.

Stephen Borg, Deputy Secretary General for Social and Civil Affairs of UfM, spoke of the multifaceted role women play across the food system as food producers, innovators, researchers, consumers or decision-makers. “Integrating gender-sensitive planning into the main policies for the green agrifood systems transition, adequately supported by gender sensitive budgeting to ensure implementation of strategies, should be a priority for decision-makers”.

Innovation through cooperation

A key pillar of the symposium is the strengthening of partnerships among international organisations, public institutions, civil society, and the private sector to advance innovation through cooperation, especially among women entrepreneurs.

Luisa M. García, Deputy Director of Cooperation with the Arab World and Asia of the AECID, underlined the need for a transformative approach: “Overcoming the barriers women face requires innovative and transformative approaches that integrate gender equity in policies and technological solutions. Therefore, as part of AECID’s regional cooperation programme with Arab countries, Masar al’an / Masar Now, we are developing an integrated strategy to empower women through innovation in the Mediterranean agro-food systems, paying special attention to youth, biodiversity and gender equality”.

Over the next few days, sessions will address the role of multilateral organisations in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems in the rural areas; needs in education and economic issues for women’s empowerment and innovation; women’s empowerment and agro-food innovation in Spain; and successful associative and cooperation models to increase women’s participation in the agricultural labour force and innovation in agro-food systems.

The symposium will conclude on Thursday 12 June with a technical visit to see a successful local initiative in Aragon, a practical example of women as drivers of change in the rural community.