Evaluation of investment support for water quality in Sweden’s 2014-2020 RDP

This evaluation report examines the impact of investment support under the Swedish 2014-2020 RDP, with a focus on non-productive environmental investments intended to reduce the leakage of plant nutrients from agricultural land to meet the national objective "No eutrophication".

The scope covers five actions under Focus Area 4B (improving water management): the construction and restoration of wetlands and dams; actions to improve water quality (such as lime filter ditches and beds); the construction of two-stage ditches; structural liming; and adjustable drainage. The primary objectives were to estimate the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus leakage, assess the cost-effectiveness of the support and identify factors influencing the uptake of these actions.

The methodological approach combined literature reviews, administrative data from support application systems and qualitative input from stakeholders. This included surveys and interviews with farmers and administrators at various county administrative boards to understand the practical barriers to implementation. The analysis combined supported-area data with existing research to estimate nutrient-reduction impacts, while cost-effectiveness was calculated by comparing granted support data with these estimated effects.

Limitations of the evaluation include its reliance on existing literature and standard values for impact estimates, rather than new field measurements. Consequently, the reported results represent estimated rather than actual effects. The analysis uses data only up to September 2019. Therefore, it does not capture the full programming period and is not considered a final evaluation. Research evidence was particularly limited for newer actions like two-stage ditches and adjustable drainage, leading to higher uncertainty in their estimated impacts.

Findings indicate that support for the construction and restoration of wetlands and dams was associated with the greatest estimated effect on reducing nutrient leakage and was the most cost-effective action assessed. Lime filter ditches appeared to be the least cost-effective action in reducing nutrient leakage. Findings also indicate that uptake varies significantly between actions. Wetland support is well known among farmers and advisors, with application levels primarily influenced by the intensity of support and regulatory requirements. Interview and survey evidence suggested that low support levels and complex regulatory requirements, such as permit processes for drainage and ditches, may have limited the applicability of some actions.

The evaluation concludes that improving knowledge and coordination is essential for future implementation. Recommendations include strengthening knowledge among administrators, developing accessible information on lesser-known actions, enhancing cooperation between authorities, reviewing ceilings, support levels and the system of advance decisions and supporting further research on action effects. It is also recommended to study wetland effects using an approach comparable with the previous programme period and to consider similar measurements for other support actions in order to strengthen the evidence base, particularly for less-documented actions.