France Unveils National Plan to Tackle Gender Inequality in Agriculture

France has launched a national action plan to support women in agriculture, with a strong focus on the wine sector. The initiative follows a year-long consultation led by the Ministry of Agriculture, which aimed to document and address persistent inequalities faced by women in farming. The findings highlighted several challenges: difficulties in starting agricultural businesses, fragile recognition of technical skills, unequal access to leadership roles, and specific physical and material constraints. The consultation also revealed that sexism is not only present in individual behaviors but is embedded in work organization and even in the design of agricultural tools.

In February 2026, during the annual Agriculture Fair in Paris, the ministry presented a roadmap with 41 measures grouped into six main areas. One of the most anticipated aspects concerns working conditions. The plan acknowledges that much agricultural equipment, including machinery used in vineyards, is not designed for women’s body types. This includes driving positions, controls, portable tools, and personal protective equipment. To address this, the government will conduct a national survey among female farmers, raise awareness among manufacturers, and work at the European level to improve ergonomic standards for agricultural machines.

For women working in viticulture, these changes are about more than comfort—they are essential for safety, preventing musculoskeletal disorders, and ensuring long-term careers. However, updating industry standards and product lines is expected to be a gradual process.

Beyond equipment issues, the plan also aims to improve information about maternity rights, adapt replacement systems for women during leave periods, and support transitions out of precarious legal statuses such as “collaborating spouse.” The plan emphasizes support for women starting or taking over farms at a time when many current operators are nearing retirement. It calls for better training of advisors, increased involvement from banks, and the creation of mentorship networks to reduce barriers identified during the consultation.

Governance is another key focus. The plan seeks more balanced representation of women in agricultural organizations and introduces monitoring indicators. In the wine sector—where cooperatives and professional bodies make strategic decisions—the presence of women is seen as crucial for evolving practices and priorities.

A year after the initial consultation began, implementation is moving forward with clear targets and public accountability. However, some cultural issues remain less addressed. These include how professional networks operate, how economic power is distributed within farms, and deeper biases that persist across the sector.

Isabelle Perraud, spokesperson for Paye Ton Pinard—a group advocating for women in wine—notes that while progress is being made in terms of visibility and organization among women professionals, significant challenges remain. She points out that violence and harassment are still deeply rooted in the industry. According to Perraud, what has changed most is that women are now speaking out more openly about their experiences and organizing collectively to demand change.

Perraud also highlights that while the government’s action plan marks an important step forward—especially as France faces a wave of retirements by 2030—it does not explicitly address sexual harassment or violence against women in its 30-page document. She argues that naming these issues directly is necessary for real progress.

To better protect women and ensure fair representation in viticulture jobs, Perraud advocates for quotas to guarantee women’s presence in decision-making bodies. She believes that only those who experience these realities can fully understand and address them.

Grassroots efforts have been underway for years across France’s wine regions. Women have formed collectives to share experiences and develop practical solutions independently of government initiatives.

At the European level, programs like Grapes of Change are working to create new diagnostic tools and resources. One major project is establishing a European Observatory on gender-based violence in agriculture. The program also offers free training modules and interactive learning tools to help all industry participants recognize and prevent violence while building effective support systems.

The coming years will show whether these combined efforts—from government policy to grassroots activism—lead to measurable improvements for women working in French vineyards and beyond.