“Bio” - Organic farming remains attractive

Austria is the EU organic farming country number 1: It is the EU Member State having the highest share of farms that are managed according to organic farming principles. As stated in the 5th Organic Farming Action Programme (2015 - 2022), Austria’s declared goal is to maintain this position and to further raise its share of organic farming.

The measure “Organic farming” of the Austrian Rural Development Programme 2023 will also in the new period be a core element of “ÖPUL”, the Austrian programme for the promotion of an agricultural system that is environmentally sound, extensive and protective of natural habitats. The measure has been further developed and can be combined with numerous other ÖPUL measures.

Comprehensive support programme

But it is not only the Agri-environmental Programme ÖPUL that focuses increasingly on organic farming. Measures for investments (stables), cooperation (sales promotion), education and extension, EIP (European Innovation Partnership) will partly receive additional funding from 2023 onwards and will also be favoured in terms of funding intensity.

The ÖPUL measure "Organic farming" offers solutions for a safe, future-oriented and sustainable agricultural system. By refraining from the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, restricting authorised fertilisers and diversified crop rotation, organic farming enhances the diversity of plants and beneficial organisms. Additionally, biodiversity requirements have been integrated into the measure “Organic farming”.