Funding of cooperative measures to improve climate protection and biodiversity on agriculturally used land

With the “Promotion of cooperative measures to improve climate protection and biodiversity on agriculturally used land,” the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Environment and Consumer Protection of Brandenburg exclusively supports agricultural cooperatives in Brandenburg, which consist of at least three individual farms sharing a common operational number. A prerequisite is the submission of a verified natural spatial expert concept delineating a clearly defined project area in which voluntary agri-environmental and climate protection measures are implemented. The cooperative is coordinated by project management, which, in consultation with the members, prepares annual usage plans and documents them to the granting authority. Funded are “Cooperative Climate Protection Measures” and “Cooperative Biodiversity Measures” that go beyond statutory minimum requirements. The objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, curb biodiversity loss, and sustainably enhance ecosystem services in designated project areas.

The funding rate amounts to up to €300 per hectare of measure area, including transaction costs, and is designed for a period of 60 months. For the application, a verified expert concept, the ELER application, proof of the cooperative operational number, and a usage plan were required. The program is closed to new applications until further notice. Already funded cooperatives may continue to fulfill their ongoing obligations within this framework; however, expansions or changes under existing funding approvals can no longer be newly applied for. Resubmission of expert concepts is not possible; substantial changes can only be coordinated on a case-by-case basis through the responsible granting authority.