To adapt to the green shift, the districts need knowledge, but also people with the power to establish new industries. A problem in rural communities has been that fewer young people and women stay.

This can make green conversion particularly difficult.

Previous research has shown that women are often more positive about green transition processes and take an active role in them. Now, says Madeleine Gustavsson, senior researcher at Ruralis, we will examine the importance of women within the green transition.

Contributing to societal changes

What gender has to say in the green shift, and especially concerning women, is a recurring theme in the five new research projects that Ruralis has now been funded to undertake (see overview below). Director Svein Frisvoll is pleased that the institute once again has many gender research projects on the go.

“Research into gender dimensions in rural communities and agriculture is something we have been doing throughout our 40-year history,” says Frisvoll. “Our research has influenced attitudes, norms and politics.”

Two of the projects are financed through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. In these instances, Ruralis is partnering with the South East Technological University in Ireland and Nordlandsforskning. Frisvoll points out that equality is a priority area in the EU today.

The research will contribute to important and necessary societal changes in EU countries that have not progressed as far in equality as Norway and the Nordic countries have. “But the projects will also give us in Norway a lot of knowledge about our own districts which are undergoing major changes, including due to climate change,” says Frisvoll.

Madeleine Gustavsson

Sustainable rural communities must face all the social, political and ecological changes of our time if they are to flourish and develop.

Promoting innovation among women

In the AgriSocial project, the researchers will look at farm structures in the context of the green transition in agriculture.

It is a problem that fewer young people want to take over farms, and as a result the social sustainability in rural areas is threatened. We are investigating whether there is a connection between green conversion, gender and who takes over the farms, says Gustavsson.

Socio-ecological sustainability is also a theme in the Grass Ceiling project. The aim here is to promote female entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas.

This will take place through, among other things, uncovering and raising awareness of gender norms. “We want to gain more knowledge about female innovators and become more aware of what obstacles there are, as well as finding solutions for how they can be overcome,” says senior researcher Maja Farstad.

Gustavsson points out that local communities are dependent on creating systems that make change possible.

“Sustainable rural communities must face all the social, political and ecological changes of our time if they are to flourish and develop,” she says.

Coastal village near Ålesund in Norway. Photo: Marco Villabrille/Ruralis

Helping coastal communities

In the EmpowerUs project, the goal is to develop a programme that will make it possible for coastal communities to find ways to restructure themselves. Several coastal laboratories in EU countries will also contribute here.

Gender is important for diversity and for creating sustainable changes on the coast over time. “This means that we must ensure that women – together with men –participate in the programme so that women’s needs and goals for the future are also included when the coastal communities have to find the solutions,” says Gustavsson.

She is looking forward to starting the projects.

“As a researcher, it is incredibly fun to have the opportunity to focus on my core areas – gender and ocean research,” she reflects. “We look forward to working with important partners in both Norway and Europe, developing our expertise and doing research in a field in which Ruralis has traditionally been very strong.”

Svein Frisvoll is happy that Ruralis is making a big mark in gender research again.

“Our researchers have a good reputation which means that very good research environments want to work with us. With senior researcher Madeleine Gustavsson on the team, we have also gained an even stronger international network and a visible position in the field,” he says.

These are the new research projects: