{"id":2452,"date":"2026-11-09T14:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afaktive.stoffstrom.org\/2026\/11\/09\/the-conference-of-the-german-agriculture-ministers-has-resolved-to-set-in-motion-measures-to-improve-the-framework-conditions-for-agroforestry-the-federal-states-see-a-need-for-action-regarding-the-c\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T14:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T13:46:00","slug":"the-conference-of-the-german-agriculture-ministers-has-resolved-to-set-in-motion-measures-to-improve-the-framework-conditions-for-agroforestry-the-federal-states-see-a-need-for-action-regarding-the-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afaktive.stoffstrom.org\/en\/2026\/11\/09\/the-conference-of-the-german-agriculture-ministers-has-resolved-to-set-in-motion-measures-to-improve-the-framework-conditions-for-agroforestry-the-federal-states-see-a-need-for-action-regarding-the-c\/","title":{"rendered":"The Conference of the German Agriculture Ministers has resolved to set in motion measures to improve the framework conditions for agroforestry: the federal states see a need for action regarding the CAP definition, support for own contributions and the intervention regulation."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 25 September 2026, the Conference of the German Agriculture Ministers<\/a> adopted resolutions<\/a> setting out practical guidance and related research:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The ministers and senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states acknowledge that agroforestry systems (AFS) contribute to environmental and resource protection. Since 2023, AFS have been defined in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a form of agricultural land use and are receiving targeted funding. They are a key component of climate, soil and water protection, as well as biodiversity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The ministers and senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states therefore welcome the investment funding for the initial establishment of AFS through the Joint Task \u2018Improvement of Agricultural Structures and Coastal Protection\u2019 (\u201eVerbesserung der Agrarstruktur und des K\u00fcstenschutzes<\/em>\u201c, GAK), in conjunction with the necessary co-financing by the federal states, which is currently being implemented in five federal states (Bavaria, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Saxony) through specific funding programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The ministers and senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states acknowledge that investment funding for the initial establishment of AFS has so far been utilised only to a limited extent and see an urgent need for action to improve the framework conditions (clarification of the intervention regulation).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The German CAP Direct Payments Regulation (GAP-Direktzahlungsverordnung, GAPDZV<\/em>, section 4) requires at least two strips on a single field for the establishment of an AFS; from a technical perspective, even a single agroforestry strip is already beneficial and effective. The Ministers and Senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states consider it necessary to simplify the requirements for establishing an AFS. A more practical implementation of the requirements can increase acceptance of the measures, particularly in relation to small farming units and along water bodies, help to alleviate competition for land use and thus support wider implementation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The ministers and senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states therefore call on the German federal government to amend the definition of AFS in the CAP Direct Payments Regulation (GAPDZV) for the new funding period from 2028 onwards, so that agroforestry systems comprising just a single strip are also eligible for support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. The ministers and senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states request that the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) work with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) to seek clarification or, if necessary, legislative provisions to ensure that the establishment, agricultural use (including harvesting), as well as the scheduled removal of agroforestry systems in accordance with Section 4 of the CAP Direct Payments Regulation (GAPDZV) are to be classified as agricultural land use within the meaning of Section 14(2) of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz<\/em>, BNatSchG) and do not constitute a change of land use. This shall also apply to agroforestry systems with long production or rotation periods, provided that the agricultural production purpose continues to exist. They acknowledge that this is necessary to ensure that no assessment procedure within the meaning of the intervention regulation is required for the establishment, use and removal of agroforestry systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. The Ministers and Senators responsible for agriculture in the federal states request that the Planning Committee for Agricultural Structures and Coastal Protection (Planungsausschuss f\u00fcr Agrarstruktur und K\u00fcstenschutz<\/em>, PLANAK) examine the inclusion in the GAK framework plan of the recognition of own contributions as eligible expenditure for the initial establishment of agroforestry systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is now up to the German Federal Government to transpose these proposals and recommendations into law. The resolutions of the Conference of the German Agriculture Ministers provide encouragement for the growing agroforestry network in Germany:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n