Introduction

Aiming to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of agricultural enterprises, Intervention P3-73-2.9 is being immediately implemented. This initiative focuses on investments in the modernization and construction of greenhouses and accessible shelters for plant production. The program, with a total public expenditure of 150.000.000€ seeks to promote innovation, technological development and digitalization in the agricultural sector. With the signing of the relevant Ministerial Decision, the implementation of investments in greenhouses, net houses, and mushroom chambers is set to begin, significantly contributing to the sustainable development of the primary sector.

Eligible Enterprises & Participation Requirements

Eligible to participate in the program are:

• Individuals who are professional farmers, new entrants in agriculture, or owners of agricultural enterprises, up to 60 years of age, registered in the Farmers’ Register, with valid tax and social security clearance. They must not be retirees, except in cases of disability pensions.
• Legal entities (companies) engaged in agriculture, registered in the General Commercial Register, with valid tax and social security clearance and an operational duration of at least until 2034. They must provide a certificate of judicial solvency.
• Collaborative entities (such as producer groups, cooperatives, agricultural organizations, etc.) which are registered in the relevant registers, have distinct accounting management, show economic viability (average turnover exceeding 60.000€ in the last 3 years, or exemption for newly established entities), and designate a responsible person for implementation.

Requirements for Agricultural Enterprises:

• They must be included in the Single Farm Declaration for 2024, which is the declaration that farmers submit to report their agricultural details and participate in subsidies.
• They must have a minimum productive capacity of 8.000€.
• They must comply with EU standards (with a deadline for compliance for new farmers).

Type and Amount of Subsidy

The subsidized budget for each project ranges from 30.000€ to 1.000.000€.

The support intensity varies depending on the type of expenditure as follows:

Support intensity of 60% for eligible expenses in the following categories:

• Cutting-edge technology equipment within eligible constructions.
• Hydroponic / aeroponic systems.
• Fully electric self-propelled machinery (tractors, harvesting machines, etc.).

Support intensity of 50% for other eligible expenses.

The support intensity is increased by 10 percentage points depending on the location of the beneficiary, provided that the support rate does not exceed:

• 70% for beneficiaries located on the islands of the Aegean Sea.
• 65% for beneficiaries located in Thessaly, Evros Regional Unit, and the Municipality of Domokos.
• 65% for beneficiaries located in mainland areas included in the Territorial Plans for Just Development Transition (TPJDT).

For expenditures made by young farmers, regardless of the location of their enterprise, a 10 percentage point increase in the support intensity is provided, with the maximum support intensity being 70%.

Implementation Duration

The duration will be established in the Detailed Invitation of the Action upon its publication.

Eligible Expenses

The program covers a range of investment expenses related to the construction, modernization and equipment of agricultural production facilities.

1. Construction & Infrastructure

Greenhouses & Cultivation Facilities

• New greenhouses and closed mushroom chambers.
• Net houses and high-tech plant production facilities.

Building Infrastructure & Site Preparation

• Warehouses and storage areas.
• Product preparation facilities (cold storage, sorting rooms, washing stations, etc.).
• Fencing and landscaping of surrounding areas.
• Prefabricated worker housing (up to 50 m² and 300€/m²).
• Rainwater collection tanks.
• Any other building infrastructure deemed necessary for the enterprise.
• Land purchase (up to 10% of the budget).

Equipment & Machinery

• Greenhouse equipment (heating, cooling, shading, hydroponics systems, automation, waste management, etc.).
• Agricultural machinery for plant production and mushroom cultivation (seeding, plant protection, mist irrigation, small agricultural tractors – electric or conventional).
• Renewable Energy Systems (RES) for meeting energy needs (up to 30% of eligible expenses).
• General Expenses Services associated with the implementation of the investment plan.

Non-Eligible Expenses

• VAT, taxes, fees.
• Replacement of old equipment.
• Purchase of used machinery.
• Rent, maintenance of facilities and tools.
• Connection to public utility networks.
• Financial expenses and non-verifiable costs.
• Investments of collective entities that have already received funding from another program.

Submission and Evaluation of Funding Applications

Applications for funding will be submitted exclusively online through the Integrated Information System for the Management of State Aid (iSAMIS.). The methodology for evaluating the action will be Comparative Evaluation. The submission deadline and process, required supporting documents, beneficiary obligations, evaluation criteria, and other implementation terms will be outlined in the Detailed Invitation of the Action upon its publication.

For further details on this specific program, other available funding opportunities, or any support related to the planning and implementation of your investment projects, please do not hesitate to contact us at 231 0 552000 or 210 9580000, or via email at [email protected].