Despite accounting for a high share of the farming population in Lithuania, rural women remain underrepresented in innovation processes and formal support networks. This study explores how the Living Lab (LL) approach, as applied in the EU-funded GRASS CEILING project, supported women-led agricultural innovation through participatory, context-sensitive facilitation.

The Lithuanian LL brought together a diverse group of eight women farmers with varying levels of experience, farm types, and innovation readiness. Over three years, participants engaged in nine meetings, primarily in person, including site visits to women-led businesses, botanical gardens, and public institutions. Activities followed a structured, process-oriented empowerment journey—from capacity-building and self-reflection to innovation prototyping and testing—supported by expert-led training and peer mentoring.

Qualitative data—diaries, structured reflections, mentoring notes, and a final focus group—revealed several outcomes. First, the LL fostered a psychologically safe and inclusive environment, allowing women to exchange ideas, reflect on barriers, and gain confidence. Second, peer learning emerged as a critical support mechanism, often more valued than formal expertise. Third, innovation was redefined—from high-tech solutions to incremental, low-cost changes such as marketing strategies or new sales channels. Several participants increased visibility through media, awards, and market engagement.

However, systemic challenges such as limited access to childcare, funding, and policy alignment remain. Participants also noted the lack of targeted training for small farms and insufficient integration into broader agricultural policy frameworks.

In conclusion, the Lithuanian LL demonstrates that gender-sensitive, place-based participatory methods can empower rural women, enhance innovation ecosystems, and contribute to inclusive rural transformation in a post-socialist context.