The European Commission Representation in Ireland along with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) aim to highlight the important role women play in farming.

An event will be held on Tuesday, March 4 celebrating Irish women in agriculture to mark International Women's Day which falls Saturday, March 8.

'Women Step Into Farming' will place a spotlight on successful women farmers and discuss the important role women play in cultivating a sustainable farming sector in Ireland.

The special event will consist of a panel discussion with the following women in different sectors of agriculture and rural life:

Ailbhe Gerrard, farmer, Brookefield Farm and ACORNS community member;
Dr. Anne-Marie Butler, head of education, Teagasc;
Karen McCabe, farmer and writer;
Dr. Maura Farrell, lead coordinator for FLIARA (Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas).

The panel will be moderated by Agriland editor, Stella Meehan.

ACORNS runs a six-month programme that supports early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland to get their business off the ground.

Successful applicants will participate in interactive roundtable sessions run by female ''lead entrepreneurs'' who have grown businesses in rural Ireland.

The pilot launch of this programme ran from September 2015 to April 2016, in which the lead entrepreneurs helped eight businesses begin trading for the first time and five participants made export sales for the first time.

The ACORNS 9 programme ran from October 2023 to April 2024, where based on survey results from the participants, the combined group turnover went from €1.2 million to €4 million, which was a 43% increase.

Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas (FLIARA) is a project supporting women-led innovative farming practices across Europe.

Its mission is to create a sustainable future in agriculture and rural areas by highlighting the challenges women face in innovative environmental and rural development.

The project develops practical tools and policy proposals ensuring women are supported within an innovative agricultural sector.