About the Award

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About the Award

European biennial award

The Innovation Award for Women Farmers, aims to highlight the contributions women make towards rural development, forestry and farming.
It was first introduced in 2010 and is now launching its seventh edition.
The award is an opportunity to showcase the many innovative approaches women take in finding new solutions to the challenges faced in rural areas.

Women have a key role

Now more than ever, rural women have a key role to play in the development and preservation of vibrant rural areas. Through their engagement in local associations, municipal councils, farms and cooperatives, women are rural keystones.

Women are contributing

Despite this lower number, women are contributing to the development of social farming but also to further evolution of agricultural models. A number of great and groundbreaking projects are carried out by women farmers each years across the EU.

of Europeans live in rural areas

of that population are women

of farms in the EU are family run

of the total EU farm managers are women

Inspire new vocations

At Copa and Cogeca we are proud of the Award and we want to promote it widely in order to inspire and create new vocations: EU agriculture is facing key economic, environmental and social challenges and we need all brilliant minds, both men and women to overcome them in the coming years. We can’t foresee a strong rural Europe without including a strong agriculture women component!

This year’s edition of the Copa and Cogeca’s Innovation Award for Women Farmers is entitled "Women making waves in sustainable water systems" . By implementing novel solutions, women take an active role in the fight against climate change whether we consider adaption or mitigation measures.

Convinced?

Check out the rules before applying. It should only take a few minutes of your time.

3 reasons to apply

After 6 Editions of this award, the feedback we received from the participants have always been positive: it is worth applying and even if you do not win, you will be sure to learn from other projects, and from women farmers from across the EU. However if we had to give you 3 reasons why you shuld apply, here they are:

INSPIRE AND GET INSPIRED

Inspire and get inspired by women farmers like you that have decided to start their entrepreneurial journey in one of the EU27 member states.

GET VISIBILITY

If you figure among the 5 shortlisted, you will get visibility for your project at the highest European political level and benefit from a professional promotional video presenting your initiative.

WIN THE PRIZE

Through our partnership with Corteva, the winner of the award will receive a cash prize of 10,000€, while the Jury's favourite will receive a cash prize of 5,000€.

Conditions

Who can apply?

Applicant must be:

Farmer

Only active women farmers are eligible to apply the Award.

Member

Of a farming or cooperative organisations represented within Copa and Cogeca.

Enterpreneur

Responsible for the entrepreneurial activity eligible for the award.

How the competition is organised?

Evaluation

All received applications shall be opened and their eligibility evaluated by the Organising Committee.

Analyzation

All eligible applications are analysed by the Organising Committee which draws up a shortlist of the 5 best applications.

Top 5

The 5 best applications are then sent to the Jury.

Deliberation

After thoughtful analysis and deliberation the Jury selects the winning project. Additionally, a prize for special achievement may be given by the Jury.

Winner

The award winner is revealed at the ceremony in the European Parliament.

ANY QUESTION, DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US!

Ksenija Simović

Copa and Cogeca Senior Policy Advisor

in charge of the Innovation Award for Women Farmers 2025

An award brought to you by Copa and Cogeca
with the support of Corteva Agrisciences™

Rue de Trèves 61 , 1040 Bruxelles

Tèl. : +32 (0)2/287.27.11
Fax: +32 (0)2/287.27.00

mail@copa-cogeca.eu

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