The government is reallocating one billion to green transformation of agriculture.

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The government, with support from the parties in the Folketing, has decided to transfer one billion DKK of the EU's agricultural support in 2027 to green initiatives in 2028. This allows more funds to be directed towards measures that promote the green transformation of agriculture. The money will be taken, among other sources, from direct area support that farmers receive solely for owning eligible land, and the Organic Association views the redistribution positively: "It appears to be the first step towards reducing direct hectare-based support and increasingly directing agricultural support to farmers who achieve measurable results for nature, the environment, climate, and animal welfare," says Sybille Kyed, head of agricultural and food policy. This change in EU rules, which came into effect in July, has made it possible to reallocate funds from the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which runs until 2027, into the subsequent period. More autonomy It is also planned that EU member states will be able to use CAP funds more freely across different purposes, enabling the first steps toward the ambitions for how EU agricultural support should be used in the future. "We have in the government’s platform ambitions to redistribute agricultural support so that it more strongly supports concrete green actions instead of direct hectare-based support. That is, more support for initiatives that strengthen nature and biodiversity, ensure better animal welfare, provide CO2 reductions, reduce nitrogen emissions, and deliver cleaner drinking water. A change in EU rules has given us the opportunity, with the support of the Folketing, to take a step toward these green goals earlier than expected," says Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen (S) in a press release from the ministry. The funds will be moved to a green land withdrawal reserve, and the specific use of the funds awaits the upcoming EU agricultural policy from 2028. The money comes from a combination of funds that would otherwise go to direct hectare-based support and funds that were not expected to be used in the green scheme for temporary extensification. The basic payment to farmers will remain at the same level in 2027 as in 2026. Venstre, Liberal Alliance, Conservatives, the Red-Green Alliance, and The Alternative have supported the government’s plan to transfer CAP funds between years to allocate more funds to green initiatives.

The government, with the support of the parties in the Parliament, has decided to transfer one billion DKK of the EU's agricultural support in 2027 to green initiatives in 2028. In this way, it is possible to channel more funds into measures that strengthen the green transition of agriculture.

The money will, among other things, be taken from direct area support, which farmers receive solely for owning eligible land, and the Organic Association views the redistribution positively:

"It appears to be the first step towards reducing the direct hectare support and increasingly directing agricultural support to farmers who achieve measurable results for nature, the environment, climate, and animal welfare," says agricultural and food policy chief Sybille Kyed.

This is a change in EU rules, which came into force in July, allowing funds from the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), running until 2027, to be moved into the subsequent period.

More autonomy

It is also planned that EU member states will be able to use the CAP funds more freely across purposes, making it possible to take the first steps towards the ambitions regarding how EU agricultural support should be used in the future.

”In our government platform, we have ambitions that agricultural support should be redistributed so that it more strongly supports concrete green actions instead of direct hectare support. That is, more support for measures that enhance nature and biodiversity, ensure better animal welfare, provide CO2 reductions, reduce nitrogen emissions, and provide cleaner drinking water. A change in EU rules has given us the opportunity, with the support of the Parliament, to take a step towards these green goals earlier than expected,” says Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen (S) in a press release from the ministry.

The funds will be moved to a green land withdrawal reserve, and the decision on the specific use of the funds awaits the EU’s upcoming agricultural policy from 2028. The money comes from a combination of funds that would otherwise go to direct hectare support and funds that were not expected to be used in the green scheme for temporary extensification. The basic payment to farmers remains at the same level in 2027 as in 2026.

Venstre, Liberal Alliance, Conservatives, The Red Party, and The Alternative have given their support to the government's plan to transfer CAP funds between years to allocate more funds to green initiatives.