Irish CEO urges CAP funds for women-led farm ventures
MEPs are being urged to ring-fence funding in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for female-led farm diversification projects and businesses.
Irish agtech businesswoman Ursula Kelly will bring her proposal to the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee in Brussels tomorrow (Wednesday, November 4).
The chief executive officer (CEO) and owner of Cormac Tagging will address the committee as part of an exchange of views entitled, 'Women's Leadership: Shaping the Change and Inspiring the Next Generation'.
The event is part of the parliament's Gender Equality Week in the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer.
CAP
As negotiations around the next CAP continue, Kelly said her proposal brings together three EU priorities: generational renewal; women in agriculture and rural development.
Kelly believes one ring-fenced fund under CAP for female-led farm diversification projects and businesses would deliver on all three and that the LEADER model is already there to run it.
The fund would be for new enterprises built around the farm and would sit apart from CAP supports for primary producers.
"Europe has spent years asking how we get the next generation into agriculture," Kelly said.
"Part of the answer is right in front of us: rural women with the ideas and the ambition to build something. But ideas alone aren't enough.
"We need access to finance, networks, training and childcare - and above all the chance to lead.
"Some of Europe's best agricultural business ideas are still sitting around kitchen tables on family farms, waiting for someone to act on them.
"I'm proof of what can grow from a small farm diversification project and I want women right across rural Europe to get the same chance," she added.
Farm businesses
Kelly said her proposal looks at the three EU priorities together rather than individually.
"Farm diversification brings in new household income. That helps secure the family farm and gives young women and men a reason to stay in rural Europe.
"So it's generational renewal, it's women in agriculture and it's rural development from the one investment. LEADER is already there to deliver it.
"Celebrating women in agriculture in 2026 is welcome but recognition without investment in the businesses they start won't change much," she said.
Agri-business
Kelly will also speak to MEPs about her own experience as a female CEO in agribusiness.
Cormac Tagging is a family-founded business based in Co. Galway, supplying official livestock ID tags to Irish farmers and international customers.
"I love what I do but being a female CEO in European agribusiness can be a lonely enough journey.
"We need more women in the jobs where decisions about farming's future get made, and we need the men in the industry with us.
"If young women can see female farmers, entrepreneurs and business owners, they'll know there's room for them too," she said.
