DEMETER and SmartAgriHubs, two H2020 projects, have launched a joint report focusing on gender, youth and technology, to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8th March 2023.
The Changing Face of Agriculture report summarises insights into gender and age imbalances in the agricultural sector and how these can be addressed.
It highlights that women currently represent 30% of the total workforce in agriculture, forestry and fisheries across Europe. Alongside the gender gap, Evi Arachoviti, head of policy and social at Innovation for Agriculture and one of the report authors, shares that it is important to recognise that the average age of farming people in the UK and Europe is significantly older than the wider working population.
“Both establishing gender equity and attracting younger people to a career in agriculture is going to be critical to guarantee the future of the farming sector in Europe,” she says.
The report also analyses the impact of technology, including how digital innovations have the potential to increase opportunities for women and younger people to start working in the sector, or, in some cases how technology could lead to exclusion of new entrants.
The report authors call for the launch of initiatives to demonstrate how agriculture is using and benefiting from technology, digital tools and science.
“By showcasing how technology and digital innovations are being used to transform agriculture we can inspire young people and women to see it as an exciting career option,” says Evi.
The report was written by Evi Arachoviti, Gráinne Dilleen and Hazel Peavoy from South East Technological University in Ireland, Margaux Plurien from Schuttelaar & Partners and Marta Ramón from Pulverizadores Fede SLU. It outlines the key findings from a series of webinars and discussions with farmers, experts, policymakers, researchers and technology providers. The full report can be accessed here.
