The cycle of seminars 'Research Mondays' of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (ETSIAAB) has taken the form of a round table this week to give a voice to four women working in different areas within the agri-food sector. The protagonists of the conference spoke about their day-to-day work and the present and future challenges they face in a male-dominated sector.
The four speakers agreed that education is one of the main ways to reduce the gender gap and inequalities in the agri-food sector. For farmer María Ángeles Rosado, the profession goes back a long way. Daughter and granddaughter of farmers, she confessed that at the age of 8, after seeing her father and grandfather cry because they had lost a harvest, she asked her mother "what she had to study to become Minister of Agriculture". Elena Artalejo, marketing manager of Ceres Biotics, said she was proud to work in the field of microbiology and phytotechnology, which is "what she is really passionate about". Isabel Rocafull, regional service manager for Kubota Spain, stressed the importance of "studying something you like because you are in contact with the rural environment and help the farmer".
In her experience, men in this sector have a lot of respect for women, but they are "very reticent at first". However, she is optimistic about a situation that "is gradually changing due to the cultural change and the change of ideas brought by the new generations". She also believes that "it is important for women to be ambitious and work hard to fulfil their dreams".
The four women who took part in the round table discussion 'Commemoration of International Women's Day. Professionals in the agricultural sector: challenges and realities' have shared the main messages of the day in this link.