RDP project database

Several LAGs have used LEADER-funded projects to provide support for a range of supply chain activities that ultimately benefit both the environment and the participating farmers – including farm management infrastructure and marketing.

Many mosaic or grassland-dominated landscapes depend on grazing for maintaining aesthetics and biodiversity. Extensive grazing by sheep, goats and suckler cows benefits nature conservation and encourages the provision of public goods. But these production systems are often less profitable – especially when following special environmental requirements – and require some support to maintain viability.

The initiative aims at boosting agri-food products produced in areas that provide special care to and enhance the environment (measure 411). Therefore, a wide range of development activities are eligible, including farm infrastructure and equipment, and even post-farm products marketing – in other words, supporting the management and marketing activities that deliver public environmental goods.

Several LEADER regions are using projects to safeguard and enhance the environment through support activities, such as building new fences and water supply, marketing agri-food products, etc. The LAGs involved in the project actively participated in the preparatory work to decide the eligibility criteria as well as informing and training farmers, preparing the administrative documents, screening all applications, monitoring project implementation and providing feedback.

Direct benefits to farmers include: i) improved farm management systems through new equipment (e.g. mobile milking machine for goats) and human resources (e.g. creating seasonal shepherding jobs) investments; ii) higher revenues via the marketing of agri-food products. In a wider sense the natural environment is safeguarded enhanced through improved management system.

“Mainstream” programmes (agricultural investments, agri-environment schemes, diversification and marketing) are not always adequate to address specific needs and situations. LEADER initiatives can often provide creative solutions. LEADER projects can be used to fill in existing support mechanisms gaps and provide more flexible approaches, such as supporting extensive grazing independently if they are carried out by farmers on their own land or on public/nature conservation land.

LAG Nordschwarzwald The initiative is financed also by other measures, such as measures 121,123, 214, 323.

Baden-Württenberg

Baden-Württemberg

355 000

140 000

45 000

100 000

67 000

https://www.leader-nordschwarzwald.de/home/index_html

Dajana Grzesik, LAG Nordschwarzwald

13.grzesik@kreis-calw.de

+ 49 7051 160 203

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