Funding instruments for agrobiodiversity
© BLE
Since 1987 the EU gives subsidies to farmers for specific environmental-friendly measures. Since today funding of agri-environmental measures has increased significantly. For the current funding period (2007-2013) the Council Regulation No. 1698/2005 on the "support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)" sets the general framework for the rural development policy. In Germany, the implementation of the EAFRD at national and Laender level supports a sustainable rural development through a variety of agri-environmental-friendly measures, including the conservation and utilisation of genetic resources.
The EU-Council Regulation 870/2004 on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture supports correspondent EU-projects. Germany participates in and co-ordinates several projects.
The German Federal Ministry of Agriculture provides a specific programme for funding of demonstration and model projects in the field of agrobiodiversity. Subject to funding are innovative projects that directly address the conservation, the availability and sustainable utilisation of agrobiodiversity, and with project results being appropriate to be transferred to e.g. other regions or crops. The project executing organisation is the German Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE).