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  • Publication | 2026
Women in farming in the EU- Analytical Brief 15
Global Food and Nutrition Security

This Analytical Brief, published by DG Agriculture and Rural Development, provides a quantitative evidence base on the situation of women in EU agriculture to inform policy discussions, including around 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer .

Women manage 32% of EU farms, yet structural disparities remain stark. Their farms average just 9 hectares compared to 21 for male-managed farms, and nearly three quarters generate less than EUR 8 000 in annual output. Female managers tend to be older and have lower levels of formal agricultural training than their male counterparts. Economic gaps are significant and widening: in 2023, farms managed by women earned 42% less per worker than those run by men. Under the CAP 2023–2027, women represent 31% of beneficiaries but receive only 15% of total payments, reflecting farm size-based allocation mechanisms.

The Commission's Strategy for Generational Renewal, the proposed CAP 2028–2034 and the Women in Farming Platform collectively aim to address these structural barriers through targeted support, improved gender-disaggregated data and dedicated networking opportunities.