Network for Rural Development

Since Austria's accession to the EU, the EAFRD program has been promoting a wide range of different measures to support rural areas. From the countless activities over the past 20 years, a need for networking and coordination emerged, which has been met by the establishment of a special network unit in 2007.

The task of the national network unit, known as the Austrian Rural Network (“Netzwerk Zukunftsraum Land LE 14–20“) is to promote the cooperation and networking of the large number of stakeholders in agriculture, forestry, along the value chain, in environmental protection, energy production, rural tourism, in SMEs and in cultural, economic and social organizations.

We are part of the network commissioned by the Austrian Environment Ministry and – regarding environmental issues – headed by the Environmental Umbrella Organization (“Umweltdachverband”). Our task is the design and implementation of expert seminars on a wide range of topics, such as soil protection, biodiversity and organic farming, climate protection and agriculture. In addition, we regularly conduct in-depth foundation work for the strategic support of the network's activities and design brochures and other awareness-building materials for the various EAFRD target groups.