Individual Farm Support Program Agriculture (RL-EFP) – Agricultural Investment Support Program (AFP)
Funding of investments by small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in Hesse: Grants for barn construction, modernization, machinery, environmental and climate protection measures. Applications can be submitted continuously via the Lawile portal.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal is to support a competitive, sustainable, environmentally and climate-friendly, as well as animal-friendly agriculture in Hesse. Funded are investment measures such as barn construction and modernization, investments in machinery and equipment, environmental and climate protection projects, and diversification projects.
Eligible expenses
- Construction, acquisition, or modernization of real estate
- Investments in irrigation and frost protection systems
- Purchase of new machinery, equipment, and software
- Architectural and engineering services
- Building permits and consulting costs
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Non-eligible expenses
- Land acquisition
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
- Acquisition of non-operational assets
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises according to the EU SME definition
- At least 25% of sales revenue from agricultural products
- Meeting or exceeding the minimum size according to the Farmers' Old Age Security Act
- Proof of professional qualifications and submission of an investment plan
- Commitment period of 12 years (construction measures) or 5 years (machinery)
Documents required for application
- Digital funding application in the Lawile portal
- Investment concept
- Financing plan
- Proof of SME status
- Accounting records
- Revenue and income statements
- If applicable, environmental and climate concept
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Contribution to environmental and climate protection
- Animal welfare and animal protection aspects
- Sustainability aspects and resource efficiency
- Economic viability and feasibility
Description
In Hesse, a grant program supports capital investment projects of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises with the aim of promoting a competitive, sustainable, and particularly environmentally and climate-friendly as well as animal-friendly agriculture. Funding is provided for the construction and modernization of livestock facilities, investments in machinery, equipment, and software, as well as measures for environmental and climate protection, including irrigation and frost protection systems, and specific non-productive projects. The grant amount depends on the type of investment, ranging from 20 percent for standard projects up to 75 percent for non-productive climate protection measures. Young farmers receive up to an additional ten percentage points, while cooperations and European Innovation Partnerships (EIP Agri) receive further bonuses. Investments for diversification are also supported, such as farm holidays, direct marketing, rural gastronomy, crafts, or nature and landscape conservation. Applications can be submitted continuously until the end of 2027 via the digital Lawileportal Hesse; annual selection deadlines ensure regular approval.
Eligible for funding are EU SMEs with at least 25 percent of turnover from agricultural products and a statutory minimum farm size. Professional qualification, a detailed investment and financial plan, as well as a commitment to a twelve-year usage obligation for buildings and a five-year obligation for machinery, are required. Projects aimed at emission reduction in livestock and storage facilities, resource efficiency, and animal welfare projects according to specific structural requirements are also funded. Expenses for architectural and engineering services, permits, expert reports, patents, and licenses are included. The grant ranges between 20,000 and 5,000,000 euros, with the decision made by the responsible district administrator on behalf of the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. This funding strongly supports the structural transformation towards a modern, climate-friendly agricultural economy in Hesse.
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