Youth and women in focus: IAK brings perspectives for the rural Western Balkans to the IAMO Forum 2025

From Jun 17-21, 2025, a study tour and a thematic session took place at the IAMO Forum 2025 in Halle (Saale) as part of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue Germany – South East Europe (APD) funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH). IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH organized the exposure visit in close cooperation with the Standing Working Group on Regional Rural Development (SWG).

The session at the IAMO Forum 2025 on “Empowering Youth and Women in Agriculture: Strategies for Rural Revitalization in South East Europe" brought together key players from politics, science and rural development. It provided a platform for the exchange of evidence-based findings and for a political dialog with the aim of promoting sustainable prospects for rural communities in the countries of the Western Balkans.

Main points of discussion:

• The socio-economic challenges faced by rural youth, particularly related to employment, access to services, and participation in decision-making
• Structural and cultural barriers limiting the empowerment of rural women in agriculture and entrepreneurship
• Rural outmigration trends, with a focus on understanding aspirations, infrastructure deficits, and the resulting demographic shifts

The session was moderated by Stanimira Penkova, Team Leader at IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH and International Coordinator of the APD. The discussion focused on expert contributions from academic and institutional partners as well as current approaches from research and politics.

In addition to the specialist sessions, the week offered a varied supporting program with impressive insights into practice. The participants visited an initiative in Querfurt that is supported by LEADER – an EU initiative to promote regional development – and learned about innovative approaches to community-led development on site. Another part of the program took them to a dairy farm near Berlin, which is run by a female entrepreneur – an example of the central role played by women in modern agriculture.

Many thanks to all partners, speakers and participants for their commitment and constructive contributions. The continuation of this annual series of events is emblematic of IAK's ongoing commitment to regional exchange and the promotion of inclusive, sustainable development in rural South-East Europe.

Photo IAMO Forum 2025: © Markus Scholz