Funding for Conversion Readiness to Organic Farming

These funding guidelines are aimed at providers of expert events, information measures, and advisory services in the field of organic farming. The measures aim to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in primary agricultural production as well as in the processing and marketing of agricultural products in Hamburg in their conversion to organic farming.

Measures in the area of knowledge transfer and information measures, as well as advisory services related to organic farming, are funded. The funding includes various activities that contribute to attracting and supporting businesses in their conversion to organic farming.

Funding is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant. The aid intensity can be up to 100 percent of the eligible costs, with maximum amounts set for certain measures. Cumulation with other state aid is possible under certain conditions.

To receive funding, applicants must meet certain legal and economic requirements. These include demonstrating a viable economic basis and ensuring that the project would not be feasible without the grant. Specific exclusion criteria for companies and clear rules regarding the cumulation with other aid also apply.

The application for funding must be submitted in writing and no later than one month before the start of the project. A detailed project description and an expenditure and financing plan are required. Approval is granted at the discretion of the approving authority and within the limits of available budgetary resources.

These funding guidelines are based on the Guidelines of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg for promoting conversion readiness to organic farming. They integrate provisions of the State Budgetary Ordinance and relevant EU regulations, in particular the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation and the EU Regulation on organic production.