The bilateral cooperation programme of the BMEL

The Bilateral Cooperation Programme of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) supports the partner countries in the fields of food security, climate change mitigation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The goal is to establish a productive, resource-conserving agri-food sector and a sustainable forestry sector. The projects implemented as part of the programme strengthen bilateral relations and promote mutual understanding at technical, economic and political levels.

Technical cooperation

The Bilateral Cooperation Programme of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) offers partnership-based support and contributes to opinion formation in the partner countries. The aim is to promote reliable legal and organisational conditions as well as efficient, sustainable and entrepreneurial agri-food and forestry sectors. The programme is primarily addressed at selected emerging countries.

The project cooperation builds on reform projects undertaken by partner countries or helps raise awareness of key agricultural and forestry interrelations. Projects are developed, implemented and managed in close coordination with the partner countries in order to take the best possible account of local needs and priorities.

Project types

Dialogue projects:
Promoting the technical exchange on legal frameworks and their administrative implementation. Subject areas include agricultural trade policy, support policy, land rights, seed systems, cooperative businesses, organic and climate-resilient agriculture and forestry, food quality, agroecological principles and sustainable multifunctional forest management.
Practical demonstration and training projects:

Testing and transfer of knowledge and technologies in cooperation with industry.

Cooperation projects with industry associations:
Strengthening the self-organisation skills of stakeholders in the agricultural and forestry sectors.