• The MujerAgro project celebrated the sixth edition of the awards, granting six awards and a special prize.
• A discussion with guests from the public and private rural sectors introduced the awards ceremony with a series of reflections and a showcase of female role models.

"Does parity influence an entity's competitiveness?" This question was posed at the panel discussion at the 6th MujerAGRO Awards held on February 23rd at the ICEX Spain Export and Investment Auditorium (Madrid). These awards are organized by the Women in Agroprofessionals ( MujerAGRO ) network , which recognizes companies and projects that promote the achievement of true gender equality in rural areas.

Thus, the day's program allowed for the development of a debate and the drawing of important conclusions about a reality they consider evident: rural areas, like all other areas, continue to be hostile to women's development. Participating in the panel were figures such as María Naranjo Crespo, Director of the Food Industry ICEX Spain Export and Investment; Carolina Pecharromán de la Cruz, Equality Editor for TVE News and Director of the program "Objetivo Igualdad" (Equality Objective); María Reyes Maroto Illera, former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism from 2018 to 2023; and Val Díez Rodrigálvarez, President of the Equality and Diversity Commission of the CEOE (Spanish CEO of Spanish National Economy).

The occasion was used not only to assess the economic, social, and territorial barriers facing rural women, but also to highlight some examples of leading women. They reflected on the imposter syndrome that plagues many of them, whereby a person believes they don't deserve the achievements they are currently achieving.

Awards

At a gala hosted by journalist Paloma del Río Cañadas, the director of the Women's Institute , María Isabel García Sánchez, reported on the number of shared-ownership farms: 1,257. She also noted that women only make up 28% of the membership in agricultural cooperatives and represent 9% of the members of governing boards.

Following a closing ceremony by Begoña García Bernal, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food , the awards were presented. Several people were awarded in different categories:

1. Woman – Marta Martín Abad

The winner is the founder and manager of "Entrecabritos , " an online platform for selling roasted goat. The jury defined her as a "modern heroine" in a declining and masculinized industry such as extensive livestock farming.

2. Entrepreneurship – Jacoba González Gómez

The director of ITEAF Sevilla has created a model that encourages women to gain presence and relevance in times of resistance in a company that inspects phytosanitary products, surrounded by the predominantly male world of agricultural engineering.

3. Company – BIOSER

This company, led by Núria Fuster , has managed to compete with multinational companies in the world of food safety with a focus on human capital and improving the personal and working conditions of the team.

4. Man – Enrique de los Ríos Porras

As discussed in the discussion, it is essential to have men involved in achieving gender equality. Thus, this award recognized the CEO of the horticultural exporter UNICA , a valued figure in the sector with a presence on equality bodies and who has promoted women's rights.

5. Youth – Inés Jul López

The award went to this 34-year-old livestock farmer from Lugo, who incorporates a gender perspective into her activities as head of Ganadería Currás Xia . Her model focuses on cooperatives, animal welfare, and female ownership of the farm.

6. Food Tech – Study on 'Reproductive Biotechnologies such as In Vitro Fertilization in Animals'

This is a research project signed by a majority of women, led by veterinarian and Doctor of Agricultural Engineering Josefa Soler Valls .

In addition, this year a special recognition for “Internationalization” was awarded to Rosa Vañó Cañadas , founding partner and commercial and marketing director of the olive oil company Castillo de Canena .

The MujerAGRO project is promoted by Siete Agromarketing and Agricultural eCommerce .