Apply to become a member of the Women in Farming Platform
The European Commission invites all individuals residing in the EU and working in agriculture or in an agriculture-related field to express their interest in becoming members of the Women in Farming Platform.
Members will have the opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences and insights, and exchange best practices at national and EU levels.
The Platform will serve as a space for dialogue, learning and cooperation.
Women farmers in the EU
Women play a crucial role in European agriculture, driving innovation, sustainability and diversification in rural economies. With less than one-third of farms managed by women (32%), women farmers remain under-represented as farm owners, managers and leaders.
To attract more women to farming and allow for exchange of experience, the European Commission outlined in its Vision for Agriculture and Food the creation of the Women in Farming Platform. Serving as a forum to discuss and exchange good practices, its members will be able to set change in motion to strengthen women's engagement and equal opportunities in agriculture.
The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), prompting the take-up of activities to further put the spotlight on women involved in farming and undertaking initiatives in rural areas, to improve their status and help them tackle challenges.
The CAP and women in farming
The current common agricultural policy (CAP) explicitly promotes women’s participation in farming and in the rural economy. In their CAP Strategic Plans, EU countries have greater scope to introduce targeted measures including enhanced financial support for women farmers.
The EU is strengthening women’s representation in leadership roles, for example in decision-making bodies within LEADER initiatives. In addition, the collection of gender-disaggregated data has been reinforced during the current programming period, as better data enables more effective evidence-based policymaking.
In 2024 alone, 55,300 young women received support to set up their farming businesses and benefit from additional income support.
Women farmers testimonies
Main activity
The main activity of the Platform will be mentoring. Members will be expected to establish a mentoring network bringing together experienced women farmers and those at earlier stages of their professional journey.
Mentors will play a central role by sharing practical knowledge, business expertise and strategic guidance tailored to agricultural contexts. Mentoring will take place through:
- individual one-to-one support and group interactions,
- fostering peer learning, exchange of experience and
- mutual encouragement.
Applications
Why apply?
Becoming part of the Platform offers the opportunity for the members to connect with peers across the EU. This will allow for sharing experiences, insights, and best practices within national contexts and across borders.
A central activity of the Platform will be the creation of the network of mentors, which will unite experienced farmers from across EU countries providing guidance and support. The mentoring activities will focus on practical, business-oriented topics tailored to the needs of women farmers, such as:
- the development of farm business plans, understanding farm operating costs and time management,
- navigating agricultural markets and economic dynamics, innovation and technology,
- expanding farm business beyond food production,
- marketing and promotion of farm products, including via social media,
- advice on support, care, planning for family needs, relief services, retirement and pensions, amongst others.
By fostering a strong mentoring culture, the Platform aims to empower women in farming, enhance their confidence, and strengthen their capacity to succeed in agriculture within their national contexts and beyond.
The Platform will be steered by the wishes and ideas of the members concerning agriculture and agriculture-related fields. It is the opportunity for the members to shape and determine the topics discussed on this Platform.
Who can apply?
Provided that the candidates send their complete application before 30 April 2026, the membership of this platform is open to:
- all individuals residing in the EU and
- working in agriculture or an agriculture-related field.
Only applications meeting these requirements will be considered.
The call for applications will be reopened in due course, and the Commission will provide further information at the appropriate time.
To express your interest and apply, please fill in the application form by 30 April 2026.
In order to access the online platform, participants shall hold an active Microsoft 365 account enabling access to SharePoint and Teams. Participants shall furthermore ensure the availability of appropriate technical means, including an up-to-date web browser and a stable internet connection.
Women in research and innovation projects
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation for the 2021-27 period. Insights and evidence from EU-funded research and innovation projects in areas such as agriculture, forestry and rural areas continuously inform decision-making processes and policy making to support farmers.
Find out more from women farmers in the EU
Stories and experiences shared in the Food for Europe podcast.
Showcasing women in European farming5 March 2026
Networking for rural women entrepreneurs31 October 2024
Rural depopulation: women in Spain bucking the trend20 July 2023
