Model and Demonstration Projects in the Field of Conservation and Innovative, Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) supports innovative concepts for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity through the program for the support of model and demonstration projects. The offer is aimed at public institutions, educational institutions, and companies that wish to implement projects in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and the food industry. The funding measure can be granted as a subsidy of up to 100 percent of eligible expenses. The focus is on improving agrobiodiversity, particularly the sustainable conservation of genetic resources, the development of innovative approaches in practice, as well as targeted information and education. Project partners and experts from the affected sectors can thus make a significant contribution to reducing deficits in the use and preservation of biological diversity and developing forward-looking solutions.

Within the framework of the funding, projects with a model character are to be developed, whose results serve as decision-making aids for agricultural, environmental, and consumer policy measures. The focus is on the efficient conservation of genetic resources and the development of utilization concepts that offer sustainable economic and social added value. Eligible applicants are actors with an establishment in Germany who have relevant experience in the innovative use of biological diversity and carry out their project in the Federal Republic. In addition to a detailed project outline, a project application and a concept description must be submitted to demonstrate the project's eligibility for funding according to criteria such as innovation content, sustainability, and economic benefit.

The funding supports the development of groundbreaking ideas that are intended to serve as exemplars for future applications in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and the food industry. Key funding objectives are strengthening competitiveness and the long-term potential of ecologically oriented production that meets current requirements in the areas of climate protection and sustainability. By promoting model and demonstration projects, knowledge transfer into practice is also ensured, so that innovations can be used as a model for further measures at the regional level. The program thus offers a valuable platform to address current challenges while simultaneously contributing to the conservation of biological diversity in Germany.