Rural female entrepreneurship forums in Spain

Spain has held several forums focused on the role of women in rural development and leadership. In Brihuega, the national forum ‘Juntas hacemos territorio’ (Together we make territory) was organized by the Ministry of Equality and the Institute for Women to mark the International Day of Rural Women. The event addressed how women transform territories through sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and environmental education, with local leaders emphasizing the need for women to be protagonists in combating demographic decline.

Subsequent regional events have continued this focus. In Pazos de Borbén, the VI Forum of the Galician Rural Woman aimed to recognize women strengthening the economic and social fabric of the Galician countryside through hospitality, crafts, and local commerce. Meanwhile, the Womanation Congress in Valencia, themed ‘Root and Future. Without them, there is no countryside,’ sought to address the gap between the presence of women in rural areas and their participation in decision-making roles, focusing on innovation and generational renewal.

On the International Day of Rural Women, agricultural leaders have advocated for women to be recognized as strategic economic drivers. In Tomelloso, entrepreneur Esther Belló emphasized the importance of profitability, diversification, and industrialization to secure rural futures. In Almería, Adoración Blanque, president of Asaja Almería, noted that women manage or own more than 30% of agricultural holdings in the province. Blanque warned that without structural measures—including favorable Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) regulations, lower tax pressure, and better educational support—the sector risks losing the talent and innovation necessary for rural continuity.