Across four rural areas of Spain’s Madrid region, women leading agroecological initiatives are combining environmental stewardship with efforts to reshape rural identities and gender relations. Published in People and Nature, this research by Beatriz Vizuete, Marina García-Llorente, Irene Pérez-Ramírez and Elisa Oteros-Rozas examines the motivations, experiences and barriers of 15 women involved in agriculture, livestock farming, food processing and other sustainable agri-food activities. The study distinguishes between neo-rural women, often arriving from urban backgrounds, and local women with established rural and farming connections.

Based on semi-structured, life-history interviews, the research finds that environmental and agroecological ideals, a desire to work closely with nature, and the opportunity to shape their own working lives are central motivations for the women interviewed. Their initiatives also contribute to territorial regeneration, the recovery of traditional ecological knowledge and cooperation among local actors. However, all participants reported gender-related barriers, including the undervaluation of women’s work, gender stereotypes, unequal care responsibilities and limited recognition in agricultural networks and decision-making spaces. Neo-rural women faced additional difficulties accessing land, acquiring practical farming knowledge and building trust with local communities.

The authors argue that ecological change alone does not guarantee social justice. Agroecological initiatives need to address gender inequalities deliberately, including the distribution of productive and care work, women’s participation in governance, and access to training, resources and collective support. The findings highlight the importance of women’s leadership and collaboration between newcomers and established rural communities, while acknowledging the study’s limited sample and the need for further research in other regions.