The EU4Green project organised a two-day study visit to Austria aimed at strengthening the capacity of beneficiaries from the Western Balkans to more effectively participate in the IPARD programme and implement sustainable agricultural measures, particularly in the area of environmentally responsible manure management.

The exchange builds on Austria’s long-standing experience with agricultural subsidies and demonstrates the added value that such measures can bring – from reducing nitrogen emissions and improving manure management on farms, to generating reliable data for policy makers through agri-environmental indicators and monitoring systems.
These elements are crucial for economies in the process of EU accession, where increased participation in IPARD contributes directly to more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

Focus of the Study Visit: From Policy to Practice

During the first day, Christoph Oberhofer and Anna Hagenauer from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) and Wolfgang Jakubec from the Agricultural Market Austria (AMA)  presented the core elements of Austria’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027.

The sessions covered the structure of agricultural funding, monitoring mechanisms, investment measures, and the importance of combining EU support with national agri-environmental schemes. Special attention was given to the operational role of the national Paying Agency and Austria’s fully digitalised system, which allows for fast and transparent processing without paper-based procedures.

Participants were also introduced to the implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive, with experts from the Austrian Environment Agency and with Christian Werni from the Styrian Farm Advisory Service (Landwirtschaftskammer Steiermark  (Chamber of Agriculture Styria) explaining how farmer-friendly guidelines and clear communication ensure compliance and better environmental outcomes. Discussions included the use of agri-environmental indicators to track water quality, nutrient balances and the impact of agricultural measures.

Learning from Austria’s Agricultural Education and Farm Practices

On the second day, participants visited Francisco Josephinum  in Wieselburg (Lower Austria) — Austria’s leading institution for agricultural education. The Vice-Director, Heinrich Prankl, together with Stefan Geyer, presented how modern curricula, digital tools and practice-oriented training make agriculture more attractive to young people and strengthen the connection between education, research and real-life application. This integrated approach has been key to Austria’s success in advancing sustainable farming practices.

  Patrick Falkensteiner from the Upper Austrian  Boden.Wasser.Schutz.Beratung (Soil and Water Protection Advisory Service). focused his  contributions on soil and water protection, the practical implementation of Codes of Good Agricultural Practice, effective advisory structures for farmers, and approaches for meeting EU environmental requirements.

The study visit continued at the Fröschl family farm in Saxen (Upper Austria), where beneficiaries observed the practical implementation of agricultural measures and funding instruments. The farm demonstrated effective and efficient manure management, dairy and cattle production practices, and the role of advisory services in helping farmers apply for subsidies and implement measures on the ground.

Key Takeaways

• Different levels of implementation of the IPARD programme and Codes of Good Agricultural Practice across the WB6 economies
• Insights into Austria’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, including:
• Combination of EU funding with national agri-environmental support
• Independent role of the Paying Agency (AMA) and fully digitalised procedures
• Comprehensive evaluation approach involving a broad range of stakeholders
• Austria’s Farm Advisory Service: a small mandatory fee gives farmers access to free advisory support (funding applications + practical implementation)
• Clear, farmer-friendly communication is essential for implementing the EU Nitrates Directive
• Field demonstration days serve as an effective starting point for knowledge transfer and peer learning
• Efficient agricultural funding and making efficient use of organic manure contribute to environmental protection, cost savings for farmers, and more resilient food production