Funding of Individual Business Investments according to the Federal Special Directive
Austrian funding for individual investments by agricultural farm managers to strengthen competitiveness, animal welfare, the environment, and infrastructure. Applications can be submitted continuously.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
This intervention supports investments by operators of agricultural enterprises that contribute to improving competitiveness, income or overall performance of the enterprise, animal protection and welfare, hygiene and quality of food and feed, environmental impact and resource conservation, production processes and internal infrastructure, as well as living and working conditions.
Eligible expenses
- Investment costs
- Interest subsidies for agricultural investment loans
Non-eligible expenses
- Own contributions (except own construction timber)
- Costs for the acquisition of land and soil
- Used machinery and equipment
- Photovoltaic systems
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
- Companies
- Cooperatives
Funding requirements
- Submit the application before the start of the investment implementation
- Ensure the economic viability and financing of the investment
- Manage at least 3 hectares of agricultural land from the date of application
- Appropriate professional qualification (skilled worker examination or three years of professional experience)
- Business plan mandatory for project costs of €150,000 or more
Documents required for application
- Funding application
- Plans and building permits
- Proof of payment (invoices and payment receipts)
- Operating concept for project costs from €150,000
Evaluation criteria
- Competitiveness, income or overall performance capacity
- Environmental impact and resource conservation
- Particularly animal-friendly husbandry
- Hygiene and quality of food and feed
- Production processes and internal infrastructure
- Working conditions and work facilitation
- Digitalization and innovation (project-related bonus points)
Description
Funding for individual farm investments under the Federal Special Directive in Upper Austria supports agricultural and forestry enterprises in systematically improving their competitiveness, quality standards, and animal welfare. Private individuals, companies, and cooperatives may submit applications continuously, provided that the investments have not yet commenced. Eligible measures include construction works such as animal-friendly barns, storage and utility buildings, technical installations, as well as silo and fertilizer collection systems. Digital and climate protection-related innovations, irrigation and watering systems, as well as environmentally compatible production methods receive project-related bonus points. The maximum funding amount ranges from €100,000 to €700,000, depending on the standard output and the chosen funding subject. Federal funding is provided as a direct grant and can be supplemented by interest subsidies for agricultural investment loans. With a funding rate of up to 50%, investment costs and loan interest are supported to sustainably advance environmental impact, resource conservation, and internal infrastructure measures.
Requirements for a successful application include the cultivation of at least 3 hectares of agricultural land, the professional qualification of the farm managers (skilled worker certification or three years of professional experience), and an economically viable business concept for project costs starting at €150,000. Own labor (except own timber), used machinery, photovoltaic systems, and land acquisition are excluded. Evaluation is based on defined criteria such as competitiveness, animal welfare, hygiene, environmental impact, and labor facilitation; digitization measures earn bonus points. Application documents include the fully completed funding application, plans and building permits, proof of payments, and – for larger projects – a business concept. Processing is conducted via the AMA Digital Funding Platform, and applications may be submitted continuously.