In Madrid, the equality gala in the agri-food sector was celebrated, where the VII MujerAGRO Awards were presented, recognizing the talent and drive that women bring to an industry traditionally dominated by men. This event, which brought together more than 130 industry professionals, is part of the MujerAGRO project, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, driven by the agency Siete Agromarketing and the newspaper eComercio Agrario.
Among the awardees are prominent figures such as Esther Ferrero González, manager of Ganadería García Ferrero; the sisters Elena and Ana Soberón Pidal, from Ganadería Quesería Soberón; Isabel Félez Roselló, known for her Chocolates Artesanos Roselló; José María Martínez Díaz, former president of the Union of Agri-food Cooperatives of Navarra; Lucía Casal Vázquez, livestock farmer and agroinfluencer, and the GRODITECH Project, led by Ana María Molina Olmo.
The gala also served as a preparation for the IX National MujerAGRO Forum, scheduled for May 29th in Ciudad Real, where the situation and progress of women in the sector will be discussed. The awards highlight the need for female role models in agriculture who can inspire new generations and promote gender equality.
During the celebration, emphasis was placed on the need to eradicate patriarchal practices in the agri-food sector, noting that the evolution towards a system of real equality is crucial. Begoña Suárez, from the Women’s Institute, pointed out an increase in female representation on cooperative boards of directors, although she warned that the current 11% representation is still insufficient, calling for policies to increase this percentage to 40%.
The awardees in various categories were recognized for their innovations and sustainable contributions. Esther Ferrero received the award in the Woman category for her focus on digitizing the livestock sector. In Entrepreneurship, the Soberón Pidal sisters were awarded for revitalizing traditional cheese production, while Chocolates Artesanos Roselló was recognized in the Company category for its predominantly female workforce and commitment to social responsibility.
The event, also promoted through social media, reached over 186,000 impacts, reflecting the interest in the fight for equality in a sector crucial to the Spanish economy. The gala concluded with a call to continue working to close the wage gap, as women still earn 19.6% less than their male counterparts, an inequality that is also reflected in pensions.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish