The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment will implement, for the first time in the Region, support measures to enhance innovation, research and, above all, new forms of cooperation between agriculture, agri-food production and forestry. These measures are intended to help operators overcoming economic, environmental and social disadvantages resulting from fragmentation.

Applications for the financial support provided in sub-measures of the Cooperation Measure, created by the Region under PRORURAL+, take place until the end of the year. The support may reach a maximum rate of 70% of eligible expenditure.

According to the Ordinance published today in the Official Journal, the application is also open to projects that contribute to the simplification of supply and use of renewable energy sources, by-products, non-food waste and other raw materials, thus promoting bio-economy.

The beneficiaries of the support provided for the operating groups of the European Innovation Partnership Network (EIP), the individuals or legal persons involved in agriculture or forestry activities, namely in the processing and marketing of agricultural or forestry products.

Moreover, the application also considers as potential beneficiaries producers' groups or organisations, cooperatives or associations of the agricultural, forestry and agri-food sectors, public entities linked to the agricultural or forestry sectors, as well as public or private legal persons involved in research and development in the agricultural, forestry and agri-food sectors.

The sub-measures of the Cooperation Measure which will run until 2020 are as follows: "Creation and Functioning of EPI Operational Groups for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability," "Support to Pilot Projects and the Development of New Products, Practices, Processes and Technologies" and "Cooperation between Small Operators and Common Processes and Sharing of Facilities and Resources."

"Cooperation for Development and Promotion of Short Supply Chains and Local Markets" and "Interventions Intended to the Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change and Environmental Projects and Practices in Progress" are the remaining sub-measures that are part of the new measure implemented by the Regional Government under Region's sustainable rural development strategy.

Interested parties may consult the PRORURAL+ Portal at the address http://proruralmais.azores.gov.pt or at the Regional Directorate for Rural Development and the local Agrarian Development services.