AFIR informs that it has published the Applicant's Guide and the annexes related to the DR 22 - Pomology and Fruit Processing program.

Intervention

DR 22 - "Investments in conditioning, storage, and processing of agricultural and fruit products" contributes to achieving the specific objectives of PS for this type of intervention:

Consolidating market orientation and increasing the competitiveness of agricultural farms, both in the short and long term, including increased focus on research, technology, and digitalization;

Contributing to mitigating and adapting to climate change, including reducing emissions of greenhouse gases;

Promoting employment, economic growth, gender equality, including women's participation in agriculture, social inclusion, and local development in rural areas, including circular bioeconomy and sustainable forestry.

Objectives

Development/modernization/retechnologization of the food industry in a sustainable manner;

Supporting the sustainable development of food chains, collection, and conditioning systems;

The need to increase cooperation between actors involved in the food chain;

Development of the bioeconomy and circular economy;

Development of a sustainable food sector.

Beneficiaries

1. Associative forms with an economic role:

Agricultural cooperatives and cooperative societies established under the current national legislation;

Groups and producer organizations established under the current national legislation and recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR).

1. Other economic operators falling under:

the SME category, according to Law no. 346/2004, with subsequent amendments and completions, large enterprises, including farmers falling under the SME/large enterprise status.

Non-refundable support

The rate of non-refundable public support will be 65% of the total eligible expenses for SMEs, associative forms, and other enterprises and will not exceed:

maximum 3 million euros/project for modernization investment projects;

maximum 10 million euros/project for establishment investment projects that propose at least processing investments for the fruit and vegetable sectors, milling industry, oil, and combined feed;

maximum 7 million euros/project for other establishment investments.