New call for aid for advice on the digitalization of the agri-food and forestry sector

• Consulting is once again at the heart of the digital transformation of the agri-food and forestry sector .

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has launched a new call for proposals for digitalization advisory services , with a budget of €4.7 million , within the framework of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (PEPAC) . This support is key to strengthening the role of advisory bodies as drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and territorial cohesion in rural areas.

A decisive boost to digital consulting

The call for proposals, managed through the Spanish Agricultural Guarantee Fund (FEGA) , is co-financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) (57%) and the European Union through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development ( EAFRD ) (43%). The funds will be distributed over two equal years, with payments scheduled for 2027 and 2028 , and aim to accelerate the adoption of digital tools in farms, businesses, cooperatives, and professionals within the sector.

The objective is clear: to reduce the digital divide in rural areas , improve the economic, social, and environmental performance of farms, and foster new business models linked to digitalization and Industry 4.0 . In this context, advisory services are becoming the essential link for bringing innovation to the field and supporting farmers, ranchers, and businesses in their transformation process.

Two lines of aid adapted to the needs of the sector

The grants are structured into two main thematic programs :

• Program III : Provision of digitalization advisory services , with different levels of intensity:
  • Up to €5,000 for comprehensive advice
  • Up to €2,500 for expert advice
  • Up to €1,200 for basic advice
• Program IV : creation of digitalization advisory systems , with a maximum grant of €200,000 per beneficiary .

Both lines are framed within the supra-regional intervention 7202 – Advisory services to agricultural holdings , regulated by Royal Decree 251/2024, of March 12 .

Who can apply for these grants?

Eligible beneficiaries include private, non-profit, and social economy entities , operating at the national or supra-regional level, linked to the agri-food or forestry sector. Applications may be submitted individually or in groups of up to eight entities (in the case of service provision).

The experience of the first call has already demonstrated the positive impact of this instrument, facilitating, among other advances, the implementation of the Digital Agricultural Holding Notebook (CUE) and greater professionalization of technological advice.

Deadlines and key information session

The application period will remain open until January 30, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (peninsular time) . To support interested entities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) will hold a Demo Day and information session on January 22 at the headquarters of the School of Industrial Organization (EOI) , in a hybrid format (in-person and online).

During the event, the regulatory framework , evaluation criteria , and new calls for proposals planned for 2026 will be explained in detail, and practical success stories will be presented, with the participation of representatives from MAPA, FEGA, EOI, and entities in the sector.

More information and contact

Interested entities can obtain further information and resolve doubts by emailing bzn-asesoradigital@mapa.es , consulting the official publication in the BOE and accessing all the documentation on the MAPA website dedicated to these grants.

With this second call, the Ministry reinforces its commitment to a more solid, professionalized and results-oriented AKIS , where digital advice is consolidated as a key element for the future of the Spanish agri-food and forestry sector .