Grants of 180,000 euros to convert Basque agriculture to organic production

The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food has approved a grant call of 180,000 euros for 2026, so that Basque holdings can make the transition from conventional to certified organic production. The order with reference 2026/3823 was published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) number 170, on September 7, 2026, and was signed by Councilor Amaya Barredo Martín on July 28, 2026.

The order, 2026/3823, jointly approves the call and the regulatory bases, and is located under the protection of the Regulation (EU) 1408/2013 de minimis regime, applicable to grants in the agricultural sector. The grants are fully financed by the General Budgets of the Basque Country, according to the credits authorized for 2026 via Law 7/2025.

Objective and beneficiaries

The purpose of the call is to promote the process for Basque holdings to convert part or all of their conventional production to organic, as well as those starting new organic activities. Beneficiaries may be the holders of holdings located in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC), provided they are registered in the Register of Agricultural Holdings (REA) and, where applicable, in the Register of Organic Operators of the Basque Country.

Amounts and conditions

• The total amount of the grants is 180,000 euros, with a maximum of 50,000 euros per project, the limit of the de minimis regime.
• Eligible expenses: personnel costs, material and operating costs, and investments linked to the conversion process.
• Projects must be executed before November 1, 2026, and expenses may be those incurred from January 1, 2026, onwards.

Applications and evaluation

The application period is one month, starting from the day following the publication of the order in the BOPV. Legal entities must submit applications electronically, and individuals have the option to do so in person or electronically. Management is the responsibility of the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock, and the evaluation will be carried out by a Valuation Committee, with Felix Guarrotxena as president, Julián Lopez Escudero as secretary, and Alazne Basterra García as member.

Valuation criteria

Projects will be awarded through a competitive tender based on several criteria: quality of the report (40 points), importance of the sub-sector (15), use of holding resources and sub-products (20), and gender perspective (15). Holdings located in vulnerable zones will apply a coefficient of 1.2 to the remaining criteria. The best projects will receive 100% funding, and the rest a percentage according to their score.

This call is of strategic importance, as the organic production area in the Basque Country (approximately 7,500 hectares, 11%) is still far from the EU’s 25% goal for 2030. The grants aim to facilitate this transition, without gaps between production models, and promote healthier and more sustainable food.

Source: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, number 170, September 7, 2026, Other Provisions (official reference: 2026/3823).