INTERPORC: "Women in the pork sector guarantee the continuity and modernization of rural areas"
Organized by Yo Dona and Actualidad Económica, in collaboration with the Interprofessional Agri-Food Association of White Pork ( INTERPORC ), the event was opened by Aitziber Lanza, Director General of Food Quality and Safety for the Government of Aragon, who explained that "we are witnessing a significant increase in the presence of women in the Aragonese pork industry. Female farm owners now represent over 13% of the total, and the number of female owners or co-owners of many companies is also growing".
A panel discussion was later held with the participation of prominent professionals who discussed progress toward gender equality in the agri-food sector, female entrepreneurship in rural areas, and the impact of technological innovation on livestock farming.
Mercedes Sebastián Lafuente, head of Pig Production and Health at Grupo Jorge, stated that "the road has been difficult, but women are ready to lead the pig sector".
Along the same lines, Leonor Sáiz Amorós, Corporate Director of Institutional and External Relations at Familia Martínez, emphasized that "there has been significant progress in the sector. We must continue to strive, but today women are leading in the areas that require the most training".
For her part, Elisa Pérez Ramírez, a researcher at the CSIC's Animal Health Research Center (CISA-INIA), explained that "in research, we lead One Health projects with a much broader perspective, which takes into account the environment and society".
Finally, Isabel Rodríguez Hurtado, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Alfonso X el Sabio University, emphasized that "with information about job opportunities in sectors like the pork industry, the mindset of young people studying veterinary medicine changes. They abandon their initial idea of pursuing a clinical career and instead want to work in research, leading food and healthcare projects, etc.".
At the closing ceremony, Manuel García, president of INTERPORC, stated that "the role of women is crucial in the pork sector, which is Spain's second-largest economic activity, after tourism, and Europe's leading supplier of quality food products".
García also emphasized the importance of events that inspire and motivate more women to join the pork sector. "Through initiatives like this, INTERPORC seeks to promote a more equitable production model with more women leading projects and companies, ensuring a more competitive, inclusive, and environmentally friendly future".
Currently, 42% of direct employment in the pork sector is held by women, a figure that reflects the continued progress in the integration of women in all phases of the production chain: from farms to leadership, research, and decision-making roles. This growth is also linked to the drive toward a more technological sector, in which digitalization plays an increasingly important role.
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