Competitiveness

Using biomass residues to produce a fertiliser, which is then used to grow trees, and will, over time, improve soil quality, has led to significant financial savings for nature conservation organisations and tree nurseries.  

Elevated growing trays and the automation of some management tasks has enabled strawberry production to be less reliant on external inputs and to re-use irrigation water.  

A Slovakian company with a long history of manufacturing confectionery products benefited from Rural Development Programme support to modernise its equipment and production processes.  

A family farm specialising in high quality beef cattle breeding used Rural Development Programme support to acquire new, cost-saving and more environmentally-friendly machinery.  

Modernisation of a rice farm in Portugal through the application of precision farming in its irrigation infrastructure.  

Reconstruction plan for Protected Designation of Origin olive oil producers supported by Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding   

A female entrepreneur used Rural Development Programme (RDP) support for young farmers to grow her business of producing herbs and container ornamental plants.

Natural constraint payments play a key role in supporting farms to sustain their profitability and develop in areas that would otherwise be abandoned. 

A pig farm used Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding to improve the animals’ living conditions and the branding of their products.

Investing in facilities that respect animal welfare enabled a meat processing company to improve its profitability while responding to society’s ethical concerns.