Lower Saxony invests 1.1 billion euros in sustainable rural areas

Funding for the 2023-2027 period in the German state

Today, 25 May 2021, the state of Lower Saxony, Germany has decided on future funding for rural areas. The resolution defines the strategic direction in the funding period from 2023 to 2027. The concept includes the planned funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for measures in Lower Saxony.

For the five years of the funding period (2023 to 2027), Lower Saxony has a total of around 1.1 billion euros available - around 50 million euros more annually than before.

Environment and climate will be higher priorities

The funds will be used for environment and climate programmes, as well as for projects involved in nature conservation or support. In particular, these areas will be supported in order to ensure the competitiveness and stability of sustainable agriculture.

The promotion of rural development also remains an important part of the support concept. The focus here is on the direct participation of local citizens within the framework of the LEADER approach and the strengthening of the villages through the promotion of basic services and village renewal projects.

Lower Saxony's Agriculture Minister Barbara Otte-Kinast commented on the new funding: “Today is a good day for the villages, the farmers and life in rural areas! We support the conversion of agriculture towards more environmental protection, climate protection and animal welfare through targeted funding. We are thus taking further steps in the direction that we have taken with the Lower Saxony Way together with agricultural and environmental associations."

Lower Saxony's Environment Minister Olaf Lies agreed: “Flood protection, more water protection and development, more biological diversity and even more climate protection, for example through more measures to protect our moors: We are achieving more than ever for environmental, nature and climate protection in Lower Saxony - by promoting sustainable, crisis-proof agriculture. That is the core message of the Lower Saxony Way."