Information sheet | Policy advice CAP (GLB) subsidies for planting and maintenance of agroforestry systems (Flemish regulations)

In this information sheet, we outline the possibilities and conditions regarding the agroforestry planting subsidy (BLS) and the agroforestry maintenance subsidy (BLO).

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has set clear conditions for these subsidies. These conditions can also be found via this link (BLS) and this link (BLO). The procedures are explained there as well.

However, not all questions are clearly answered by the listed conditions and procedures. Discussions with the caseworkers of the Agency have already provided many answers that are not explicitly included in the subsidy conditions. We summarize these in the final section of this sheet.

But let’s start at the beginning: a description of the planting and maintenance subsidies.

Planting Subsidy – BLS

Farmers can receive a one-time planting subsidy (up to a maximum of 75% of the incurred costs, excluding VAT) for each new agroforestry planting under the measure ‘Non-productive investments for environmental and climate objectives’ within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2023–2027). To qualify for the subsidy, the planting must meet a number of conditions. The main ones are:

• Only demonstrable costs (with invoice and proof of payment) for planting material, tree protection and reinforcement, as well as labor and machinery work for planting, reinforcing, and protecting the trees are eligible. If you carry out the planting yourself, a flat rate of up to €8/tree is paid. In that case, no other labor or machinery costs for planting, reinforcing, or protecting the trees can be claimed.
• The plots must have been in agricultural use during the year of the subsidy application and in at least one of the two years preceding that year, and must have been declared in the area aid application.
• The plots must have a minimum size of 0.5 hectares.
• A minimum of 30 and a maximum of 200 trees per hectare must be planted. You may request an exception by submitting a detailed planting plan with justification for the intended agroforestry system. The evaluation committee will then assess whether the planting still qualifies as an agricultural system.
• The trees must remain in place for at least 10 years (trees planted with subsidy up to and including spring 2014 must remain for 15 years).
• An agricultural crop must be applied between the trees and must be declared annually as the main crop for 10 years in the area aid application (until spring 2014, this is also at least 15 years).

The subsidy application is submitted via the e-loket of Agriculture and Fisheries. The farmer must register between June 1 and the third Friday of September. After evaluation, the applicant is notified no later than October 15 regarding approval. The actual payment application is done via the area aid application. Invoices and payment receipts must also be uploaded after the work is carried out.

A full overview of the conditions and procedure for the planting subsidy can be found on the website of Agentschap Landbouw en Zeevisserij. Some (administrative) preparation is required, so it's best to start early. The likelihood of a successful and productive project also increases when design, choice of tree species, etc., are well thought out in light of your specific farm situation and plot characteristics. Guidance and advice for this and other matters are available through the Consortium Agroforestry Vlaanderen.

Maintenance subsidy - BLO

Proper maintenance and preservation of established and existing agroforestry systems are important to ensure that both the agricultural and forestry components reinforce each other in the long term, and to preserve their environmental and climate benefits. Proper and timely maintenance of the tree component and the strip or zone around the trees is essential to optimize the ecosystem services and other advantages that the agroforestry system offers. Therefore, in addition to the planting subsidy, a maintenance subsidy has also been available since 2023 for existing plantings, amounting to €270/ha. This involves a five-year agri-environment-climate commitment, with payments requested annually.

The following conditions must be met:

• You are an active farmer under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
• The agroforestry system in question meets the planting conditions listed above.
• The trees of the agroforestry system:

  Are pruned annually to produce quality wood or to encourage fruit production;
  The pruning must be clearly visible on the site.

• The strip between or around the trees is managed so as not to hinder tree growth. This area may not be treated with herbicides. The zone is limited by the radius of the tree canopy in question.
• Existing livestock protection around the trees is maintained so that the trees remain protected. Wildlife protection materials must be timely removed or replaced.
• A separate commitment must be entered into for each plot. To enter into a commitment, the additional designation “BLO” must be declared on the plot in the area aid application. For the trees on the agroforestry plot, the tree species, respective quantities per species, and planting year must be specified.
• The area aid application serves as both the commitment application and the payment application for the first year. During the term of the commitment, a payment application must be submitted annually by indicating the additional designation “BLO” on the respective plots.

A full overview of the conditions and procedure for the maintenance subsidy can be found on the website of Agentschap Landbouw en Zeevisserij.

Interpretations and Nuances Regarding the Subsidy Conditions

Maximum Density

Although the maximum density under the new subsidy conditions has become more flexible, several points require clarification:

• Existing trees on a plot where new agroforestry is planned count toward the minimum-maximum density, except those clarified below as not counting.
• Low-stem fruit trees, soft fruits, vines, and short-rotation coppice (KOH) are considered agricultural crops and do not count for density rules and are not subsidized. In the case of hazelnuts, both apply: block planting is considered agriculture (not counted, not subsidized), but rows or solitary trees with crops in between can be considered part of the agroforestry component.
• Hazelnut is an explicit example, but this probably also applies to crops like low-stem quince, medlar, persimmon, fig, elderberry, sea buckthorn, Cornelian cherry, and other similar species. These can possibly fall under the crop code "other perennial fruit crops".
• Trimmed hedges under 2 m high do not count towards the maximum density, even if they are on the plot.
• In older (registered) agroforestry systems (2012–2022), additional planting above 200 trees/ha is now allowed with justification. Note: this requires submission of a planting plan with motivation. It is not automatically permitted.
• When arguing for more than 200 trees/ha, it must be clear that the plot remains an agricultural plot, for example:
  • Food forests with higher densities: e.g. permaculture/soft fruit with alder, high- and semi-stem fruit trees as the agroforestry component.
  • Strips for quality timber with future thinning planned.
  • Windbreaks/hedgerows are not located at the edge of the plot.
  • Densely planted strips not at the plot’s edge, e.g., for biomass production or to create a better microclimate for future trees.
• Agricultural crops made up of woody plants such as short-rotation coppice, low-stem fruit, berries, hazelnuts, vines, and permaculture, combined with an agroforestry tree component, are allowed. The woody plants as agricultural crops are not counted toward density limits.

Other Aspects

• Tree rows may be collectively protected, provided the fencing is not wider than 2 meters.
• New agroforestry systems for which no subsidy is applied but which meet all the subsidy conditions can be registered as Agroforestry in the area aid application up to two years after planting (for legal certainty).
• Non-active farmers who meet all plot-related conditions (including a farm number) can register an agroforestry system for legal certainty via the area aid application. This requires selecting the code "BL" under cultivation technique – specialized production method. The same applies to active farmers who plant without subsidy but want to register.
• The BLS and BLO subsidies can, under the new rules from 2023, only be obtained by active farmers.
• Payments are generally made before June 30 of the year following the payment application. For example: if you apply in September 2025 and submit a payment application in 2026, payment is expected by June 30, 2027.
• In cases of changes in ownership or use of agricultural plots, it may occur that a plot has not been registered in previous area aid applications, making it ineligible at the time of application in September. However, this can be resolved with a one-year delay: register the plot as agricultural land in September (must have a crop), again in April (second time), and the subsidy can then be applied for in the following September.
• For the BLS planting subsidy, actual costs may turn out higher than the initially estimated costs. These can still be reimbursed as long as they remain market-compliant.
• Soil improvement measures (deep tillage, mulching, composting…) are not subsidized.
• Agricultural plots that are directly adjacent but each individually smaller than 0.5 ha and have different crops are NOT eligible for the subsidy.
• Plots that do not meet the minimum area requirement at the time of application but will do so in the next area aid application through combination with (part of) other plots with the same crop are eligible. A note with clarification must be added to the subsidy file in September to make this clear to the subsidy caseworkers.
• Subsidized trees may be managed as coppice and cut down before reaching 10 years of age, as long as they regrow or are replaced during that period.

• The BLO subsidy can only be applied for starting from the second area aid application (verzamelaanvraag) after the trees have been planted.