Crofting Matters – Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Women in Crofting

Please note: We recorded this episode while out at an event, therefore the audio quality varies throughout.

Interviewees:
Prof Sally Shorthall
Karis Beattie
Haley Shepherd

The Grass Ceiling is an EU-funded project that helps rural women become leaders in innovation—especially in farming and sustainable rural development. It runs from 2023 to 2025 and supports women across Europe through ‘Living Labs’ where they test ideas, get training, and connect with others.

The aim is to help women to drive real change in rural communities—whether it’s through eco-tourism, smart farming, or green energy projects.

In short: it’s about lifting the “grass ceiling” so women in rural areas can grow, lead, and shape the future.

The Scotland Living Lab is based in the Highlands and Islands, working with eight rural women innovators connected to crofting communities. It’s a partnership led by NICRE (National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise) and the Centre for Rural Economy (Newcastle University), in collaboration with the Scottish Crofting Federation.

The Lab officially launched with a workshop in Ullapool in June 2023, bringing together women from across the Highlands & Islands.  Women share practical rural innovations, such as livestock rearing, croft diversification, wildflower seed sales, water sports ventures, and creative uses for wool.

Related Resources

Women in Agriculture (FAS.scot)
https://www.fas.scot/rural-business/women-in-agriculture/

Glass Ceiling – The Living Lab
https://www.grassceiling.eu/living-labs/scotland/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Diversification on a Shoestring
https://www.fas.scot/article/diversification-on-a-shoestring/

Croftworks podcast
Croftwork Podcasts – Scottish Crofting Federation

Business support from https://www.hie.co.uk/  and https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/