Agrarinvestitionsförderungsprogramm
(Agricultural Investment Promotion Program AFP)

Investment subsidies for agricultural businesses

The Agricultural Investment Promotion Program (AFP) supports agricultural businesses throughout Germany in investing in their future. The aim of the program is to improve competitiveness, animal welfare, and environmental and climate protection in a sustainable manner. Funding is provided in the form of subsidies from the European Union, the federal govern and the states.

What is the AFP?

The AFP is a government support program for investments in agricultural businesses. It is aimed at farmers and agricultural companies who want to modernize, develop, or adapt their businesses to new requirements.

Farmers or agricultural businesses.
The business must be classified as a small or
medium-sized enterprise (SME) and meet the respective 
funding conditions of the federal state.

The following investments, among others, are eligible for funding under the AFP:

  • Construction measures
  • Animal-friendly livestock housing
  • Conversions to improve animal welfare and functionality
  • Modern technology
  • Indoor farming technology
  • Investments in environmental and climate protection
  • Emissions reduction systems
  • Measures to reduce ammonia, dust, or odors
  • Technical systems for emissions reduction

Funding is provided for investments that contribute to improving:

  • The competitiveness of agricultural businesses
  • Animal welfare and animal health
  • Environmental and climate protection

Basic requirements for applicants (selection)

The specific funding conditions are determined by the federal states. As a rule, the following requirements apply:

  • SME status of the business
  • Minimum investment amount of at least EUR 20,000 (eligible expenses)
  • Prosperity limit: Positive annual income may not exceed certain maximum values on a three-year average
  • Economic viability: The financial viability and economic efficiency of the business and the planned investment must be demonstrated
  • Earmarking
    • Construction measures: generally 12 years
    • Technical investments: generally 5 years
       

Where do I apply for subsidies?

The AFP is implemented by the federal states. Information, application documents, and deadlines are available from the relevant state authorities or via the federal government's funding database (Förderdatenbank des Bundes).

StateAuthority Link
BavariaStMELF FörderwegweiserMore
Baden-WürttembergMLR FörderwegweiserMpre
Brandenburg, BerlinILB BrandenburgMore
Lower Saxony, Bremen, HamburgLWK NiedersachsenMore
HesseLLH HessenMore
Mecklenburg-Western PomeraniaStÄLU/Landges. MVMore
North Rhine-WestphaliaLWK NRW / RentenbankMore
Rhineland-PalatinateLWK Rheinland-PfalzMore
SaarlandMinisterium f. UmweltMore
SaxonySAB SachsenMore
Saxony-AnhaltALFF / IB Sachsen-AnhaltMore
Schleswig-HolsteinMLLEV Schleswig-HolsteinMore
ThuringiaThüringer Aufbaubank (TAB)More