SECUESVAC focuses on the key needs to ensure generational renewal in beef cattle farming

• Women still face barriers in ownership and financing.
• The focus was placed on innovation to improve work-life balance and economic efficiency.
• The SECUESVAC Operational Group aims to place professionals at the forefront of environmental management.

The SECUESVAC Operational Group held a webinar yesterday, March 16, to analyze the strategic opportunities offered by the beef cattle sector for women and young people in Spain, stressing that social sustainability is vital to curb rural depopulation.

The experts who participated in the study highlighted that, although women lead certain sectors such as organic livestock farming and the conservation of native breeds, they still face barriers in ownership and financing.

To overcome these obstacles, the focus was placed on the importance of technological innovation, including digital and satellite monitoring tools, to improve the work-life balance and economic efficiency of farms.

In this regard, Javier López, director of Provacuno, emphasized that social sustainability is one of the "absolutely fundamental pillars" at this crucial time for the sector and the region, where the importance of beef cattle—with more than 100,000 farms—is a driving force in rural areas, "essential for sustaining the rural economy, the landscape, and social cohesion, keeping people in the countryside in the face of the debate surrounding rural depopulation." Referring to women and young people, he said that, although they remain underrepresented in decision-making structures, the data is clear: women now account for over 30% of new hires in the beef and dairy cattle sector.

Reinforcing this thesis, she stated that the SECUESVAC Operational Group seeks to position women and young people at the forefront of real sustainability through the optimization of carbon sequestration.

The role of women in the beef cattle sector

Matilde Moro, manager of ASOPROVAC , explored this topic in depth through a presentation entitled “The presence of women in livestock farming in recent years and its impact on R&D&I and sustainability.” As a starting point, she explained that, statistically, in the agricultural sector, women have higher levels of education (10.5% compared to 5.3% for men), which allows them to lead the adoption of complex practices such as regenerative livestock farming.

This leadership is reflected in the field of sustainability, since, again proportionally, women lead the segments of organic livestock farming and conservation of native breeds, "prioritizing the health of the ecosystem and resilience over short-term profit."

“However,” she pointed out, “there is a significant challenge to economic sustainability, since the economic size of women-led farms is almost 40% smaller than the national average.” She identified legal invisibility, limited access to property ownership, and a lack of basic infrastructure as the main obstacles.

Identifying solutions

The round table that put the finishing touch to the event revolved around how to face these challenges. María Andrade, from Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de Asturias, participated in it; Natalia Maestro, from ASOPROVAC Castilla y León; and Francisco López Castro, from the Galician Association of Agri-Food Cooperatives (AGACA) .

During her speech, María Andrade highlighted the strong interest among women in joining the sector in her region. She noted that in the last round of grant applications, “80% of new applicants were women,” with 107 applications out of a total of 135. She also emphasized that retaining young talent in rural areas requires guaranteeing four basic pillars: adequate digital connectivity, quality public services—especially in education and healthcare—measures that promote work-life balance, and real access to housing. Andrade also championed the cooperative model as a “key tool for improving the livestock farmer’s position in the value chain.”

From Galicia, Francisco López highlighted the increased level of training among young people entering the sector, noting that enrollment in agricultural training schools is full every year. In his view, any successful model must ensure a quality of life that includes leisure time and social interaction, something in which both cooperatives and technology play a crucial role. He also warned about the growing shortage of essential trades—such as bricklayers and electricians—indispensable for the daily maintenance of farms. At the same time, he emphasized the value of technological tools such as robotic milking, GPS tracking systems for livestock, and calving detectors, which help reduce workloads and make the sector more attractive.

For her part, Natalia Maestro noted that Castile and León is leading the way in implementing shared ownership, a system she considers crucial for recognizing the administrative and management work that women have carried out for decades “behind the scenes.” Maestro also warned of the shortage of field veterinarians, as more and more professionals are shifting their focus to companion animals. She further pointed out the financial barriers faced by those wanting to start a farm from scratch, due to the high initial investment and the long waiting times for public funding. Finally, she argued that having farms of an appropriate size allows for sufficient labor to guarantee maternity leave, vacations, and a sustainable working life, preventing farmers from becoming “slaves to their work.”

Based on the above, we can conclude that generational renewal in the sector depends on ensuring basic services—such as reliable internet connectivity, public transportation, healthcare, educational facilities, etc.—and on improving the social perception of livestock farming. Ultimately, the SECUESVAC Operational Group aims to position these professionals at the forefront of environmental management, promoting carbon sequestration practices and more resilient and sustainable business models.

You can watch the webinar again here .