Rural development

The fifth application for an amendment to the Austrian Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 was approved by the European Commission on 23 August 2019.

The rural "Zukunftsraum Land" network was established to support the optimal implementation of the Austrian Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

The Partnership Agreement, concluded between Austria and the European Commission and adopted by the latter on 17 October 2014, is entitled "STRAT.AT 2020".

In 2019, the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme, ÖPUL, paid EUR 450.43 million to 90,795 holdings. That equates to 84.5 percent of all IACS farms. The average subsidy per holding amounted to EUR 4,961.

Environmentally compatible management of agricultural areas through the promotion of an agriculture which is appropriate to the environment, extensive and protective of natural Habitats.

ÖPUL 2015, Austria's agri-environmental programme, pays considerable attention to the sparing use of natural resources and long-term climate protection.

Organic farming is a key component of the Agri-environmental Programme ÖPUL 2015 and has been particularly promoted and developed by the new Programme.

Mountain farmers work for healthy, safe food. They tend the alpine landscape and make an important contribution to natural hazards control.

In these areas, farmers manage their farms under more ­difficult production, conditions. In Austria this means above all steep land, high altitude

Especially in periods of volatile agricultural prices and markets, small-structured holdings benefit from being able to rely on several sources of income. Deliberate diversity enhances competitiveness and ensures forward-looking, crisis-proof development.

Austria’s farms are located in Austria’s most scenic holiday areas. Farm holidays represent an attractive offer - especially for families. 

Green Care is a joint project of the Austrian Chambers of Agriculture. It adds the social component to the competences of farmers.

Compared to the previous period, the upper limit for costs eligible under the subsidy scheme has been substantially raised.

The new Rural Development Programme further enhances the self-reliance of the LEADER regions.

Training measures contribute significantly to the strengthening of rural areas. Therefore, they are an additional programme Focus.

EIP AGRI ist the Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability'.

What is the role of the innovation broker?

The European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI) is an initiative for the promotion of agriculture and forestry

Changes have been made to the Common Agricultural Policy's monitoring and evaluation requirements for the 2014-2020 programme period.

Agreement on the details of the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014 to 2020.

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is in line with the new Common Strategic Framework.

The Austrian Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013 was approved by the European Commission on 25 October 2007.

Austria’s demographic development is characterised by a marked growth of the big cities and simultaneous population decline in peripheral rural areas. Every year, rural areas lose over 5,000 well-educated people to the Vienna area alone. If this trend continues, this will bring about a brain drift of over 50, persons in the next ten years.