Energy crop bonus

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The energy plant premium is an agricultural policy instrument to support the cultivation of plants for energetic use in the European Union (EU). It was introduced as part of the agricultural reform in 2003 and was last granted in 2009. Farmers who cultivate energy crops received the energy crop premium as area-based aid under certain conditions. However , no energy crop premium was paid for cultivation on set- aside areas .

History of the energy crop bonus

With the implementation of the resolutions of the EU's agricultural reform (mid-term review) in 2003, it was decided to promote the cultivation of energy crops in the EU. The aim was to make a contribution to achieving the goals of EU Directive 2003/30 / EC on the promotion of the use of biofuels. The guideline prescribes a proportion of 5.75% biofuels by 2010.

From the 2004 cultivation year, a premium of 45 € / ha up to a maximum cultivation area of ​​1.5 million ha was granted for the EU-15 . If the area under cultivation were possibly exceeded, the aid would be reduced proportionally. In 2006 it was decided to expand the eligible cultivation area to 2 million hectares and also to give the ten new accession countries the opportunity to apply for the aid.

The energy plant premium only applies to areas that are not reported as set-aside as part of set-aside . In addition, a number of evidence (reports, cultivation contracts, deposits ...) must be submitted to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food , which cause costs.

Development of the areas with an energy crop premium

In 2004 the aid was paid across Europe for a total of 0.31 million ha. In 2005 it was already 0.57 million hectares, in 2006 1.23 million hectares and in the 2007 cultivation year around 2.84 million hectares.

Current developments

Due to the rapid increase in the cultivation of energy crops in the European Union, an energy plant premium was applied for in 2007 for around 2.84 million hectares and thus exceeded the total eligible area of ​​2 million hectares. Accordingly, the aid was cut by around 30%, i.e. H. the farmers no longer received 45 € / ha, but only around 33 € / ha. As part of the health check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) , it was decided to abolish the energy crop premium. The last payment will be made for the 2009 harvest.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 (PDF) of the Council of 29 September 2003 with common rules for direct payments within the framework of the common agricultural policy and with certain support schemes for owners of agricultural holdings, Official Journal No. L 270 of 21/10/2003 Pp. 0001-0069
  2. ↑ Directive 2003/30 / EC (PDF) of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 8, 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels in the transport sector
  3. ↑ a b c Press release of the European Union: Biofuels: Aid per hectare of energy crops reduced, since land is over 2 million hectares , Reference: IP / 07/1528, October 17, 2007, online
  4. ↑ Energy plant premium 2009. Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony, 2009, archived from the original on January 11, 2008 ; Retrieved April 14, 2009 .