Vision and overarching goal
AFS 2030’s vision: Estonian food is appreciated and it is good to live in the countryside.
The overarching goal: Estonia will have a preference for local food, a healthy environment and biodiversity, thriving food businesses and viable rural and coastal communities.
The strategy has two sub-objectives which are related to the state budget programs:
- smart and sustainable agriculture, food production and rural life, safe food and a well-maintained environment;
- sustainable fisheries that ensure the competitiveness of the fisheries sector and the sustainable management of fish stocks.
Both general sub-objectives and related eight directions with specific objectives and action lines take into account the needs of sustainable development as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation. Horizontal development themes include bio-economy and exports as well as the environment and integrated rural development.
Introductory videos
Direction 1: Agricultural environment
Objectives
- The use of fertilisers and plant protection products has a negligible negative impact on the environment.
- The negative impact of agricultural production on climate change and air quality has decreased and the positive impact has increased.
- The biodiversity and landscape diversity of agricultural land is maintained, and ecosystem services are ensured.
Direction 2: Plant health, animal health and welfare
Objectives
- Estonia is free from dangerous pests.
- Estonia is free of particularly dangerous animal diseases.
- Overall herd health and animal welfare will improve.
Direction 3: Food safety
Objectives
- Food produced and consumed in Estonia is safe.
- Consumers have a high level of food safety awareness and make choices that support their health.
Direction 4: Quality inputs in agriculture
Objectives
- Farmland allows diversified agricultural production.
- The range of varieties of arable and horticultural crops and plant propagating material is varied, of high quality and adapted to local conditions.
- Breeding ensures breeds and genetic diversity suitable for Estonian conditions.
Direction 5: Production, valorization, and distribution of agricultural products
Objectives
- Estonia's food sector is competitive on both internal and external markets.
- The producers’ market position is strong.
- Estonian consumers prefer and consume food produced in Estonia.
Direction 6: Rural and coastal development
Objectives
- The rural population is active and vibrant.
- Diversified businesses with growing added value in rural areas.
Direction 7: Research, innovation and knowledge transfer
Objectives
- Knowledge creation and knowledge transfer will support the achievement of the specific objectives of directions 1–6 and 8.
Direction 8: Sustainable fisheries
Objectives
- By managing fish stocks in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way, fish stocks are in a good condition.
- Environmentally conscious recreational fishing keeps spreading.
- The fisheries and aquaculture sector is sustainable and competitive.
- The fisheries and aquaculture sector produces high-quality products with high added value and high export potential.
Implementation
The implementation of the strategy will be financed from the state budget, ensuring its consistency with the state budget strategy. The total expected cost of the strategy for 2020–2030 is around EUR 4.7 billion. More detailed cost estimates are prepared each year as part of the state budget planning process.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Strategy 2030 will be implemented through two programmes. Both programmes set out the measures and activities planned to achieve the sub-objectives,together with a financing plan for the indicators and activities (including services). The funding plans for the programmes are planned in the budget models of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment. Programmes will be drawn up on a four-year view and will be renewed annually on a rolling basis, adding one year.
Public action on agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, the food industry and rural and coastal development was previously reflected in a number of development documents at different levels, largely valid until 2020.
The 2030 AFS combines the state budget strategy's result areas “Agriculture and Fisheries” and “Regional Development and Rural Areas” into a single rural development policy.
To achieve the objectives in their respective areas, the 2030 AFS is integrated with the following key development documents.
Links
Documents
The strategy will be implemented in partnership with public, private and third sector actors and research and development institutions involved in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, food, rural and coastal development.
The interventions and measures for the implementation of the strategy will be designed taking into account the strategy for the dairy, meat, cereals and horticulture sectors and the processing industry “Estonian agriculture and food 2030”, which was prepared on the initiative of the private sector.
Implementation of the strategy will be led by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment.
Related documents
Last updated: 28.06.2023
