From June 30, Estonian farmers can submit applications in e-PRIA for two new investment subsidies, which are intended to increase voluntary biosecurity and prevent animal diseases.

Jaana Karja, Service Manager of the Support Service Development Office at the PRIA, emphasizes: “In order to do as much as possible to prevent diseases from reaching our animals, new subsidies have been developed. They give livestock keepers a good opportunity to prevent the spread of diseases to their livestock holdings early on. It is important to note that for both subsidies, companies belonging to the same group are considered one applicant when calculating the maximum amount of the subsidy. This ensures that the subsidy reaches all agricultural producers contributing to biosecurity as evenly as possible.”

Types of support and conditions

1. Extraordinary investment support for the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease

• Targeted at cattle, sheep or goat farmers who have started or completed biosecurity improvement activities since 6 March 2025 – investments already made are also eligible.

• Applications will be accepted from 30 June to 14 July 2025.

• The maximum support depends on the number of companies:

• one company → up to €50,000,

• two → up to €100,000,

• three or more → up to €150,000 per applicant.

2. Investment support with a separate support increase for the prevention of a particularly dangerous animal disease

• The aim is to support buildings and equipment for the prevention of animal diseases, provided that the activity has not been completely completed before the application is submitted.
• Applications will be accepted until the budget funds are exhausted.
• The total budget is 3 million euros, financed by both the European and Estonian states.
• The maximum grant amount per applicant is 400,000 euros for the entire strategic plan period 2023–2027.

Scope of grants and requirements

• The minimum rate of both grants is 15% of eligible costs.
• If sales revenue in the previous financial year was up to 250,000 euros or there was none, the ARIB will cover up to 80% of the costs; above that, the share of the grant is up to 60%.

Why is this important?

This offers an innovative opportunity to increase biosecurity and keep serious animal diseases at bay. It also provides an opportunity for already made improvements in the planning and cost-effective design of state support. The conditions for submitting an application have been thought out and the grants are suitable for both small and large livestock farmers. According to Karja, “the grants ensure that the aid reaches everyone as evenly as possible.”

If you are planning to invest in biosecurity, this is a great time to act – with existing or new buildings, equipment and a limited budget, you will receive assured support and assistance at the right time.

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