• The aim is to close the current gender gap, where women hardly have a leadership role in the sector.
  • This programme includes support, training and personalized mentoring for six months, as well as prizes of up to 10,000 euros. Applications are open until June 13.

Women entrepreneurs are wanted. They should have started a business or project related to agrifood sector less than two years ago. The European organization EIT Food has once again launched the Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme to support projects in this sector founded by women. This programme, launched last its second edition, been a huge success. It was activated in eight countries and received 269 applications.

The aim of the EWA programme is to close the current gender gap because women hardly have a leadership role in this sector. For six months, selected women are continuously supported to advance their projects, with specific online training and personalised business mentoring. In addition, they will access investors, experts and corporatives to take their businesses to the next level. Beneficiaries will have the chance to win up to 10,000 euros.

Even though there are more women (52%) than men in Europe, female entrepreneurs represent only a third of the self-employed in the EU. Due to some different factors, entrepreneurship is currently a less attractive option for women than for men. This is worse when we move to rural areas and agrifood businesses according to the latest statistics published by the European Statistical Office. In 2016, women accounted for 28% of the top positions in agricultural and livestock farms in the European Union, with a remarkable low rate amongst women from RIS regions.

Furthermore, the lack of representation of women in rural areas not only affects entrepreneurship, but women also face obstacles that prevent them from fully developing and choosing positions of responsibility in rural companies. Therefore, and especially in rural areas, female creativity and entrepreneurial potential are an under-exploited source of economic growth that should be further explored. The European Commission is working with EU countries to overcome these challenges and encourage more women to start their own companies.

Applications are open until June 13. More information here.

 

About EIT Food

EIT Food is the leading initiative in food innovation in Europe. It works to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trustworthy. It is one of eight innovation communities established by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an organisation which is independent of the EU and was created in 2008 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.