An Alberta study hopes to identify barriers faced by rural women entrepreneurs and find ways to overcome those barriers.
The research project, launched by the Ag and Food Council, will conduct focus groups and interviews and assess survey responses to assess the barriers facing women in rural areas.
“Women play key roles in the diversification and value added businesses in the regional food system in rural Alberta,” said Bryanna Kumpula, executive director, in a news release.
“AFC is seeking to examine a pilot project model that enables today’s high growth agriculture- based women entrepreneurs the ability to seek out the expertise they need, providing them with the resources, skills and networks to optimize opportunities for success.”
The project, Success for Women in Agri-Food, is aimed at creating an environment where women can more equitably contribute to the farm success and engage with the policy process that affects their daily lives.
Once the current state of women in rural areas is assessed and a framework developed, pilot projects will run in five areas across the province.
