Agriculture
News about agriculture — harvests, subsidies, markets, policies, and challenges facing farmers.
Young leaders in agriculture - the EU discusses strategies to attract and retain young people in rural areas
The Minister of Agriculture and Food of Bulgaria will participate in an informal EU meeting, where opportunities to encourage young people to engage in the agricultural sector will be discussed. Key topics will be access to resources, education and support for starting one's own business in rural areas.
New regulatory framework for transparency and equality in food and agricultural product supplies
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food proposes a draft law that creates a special legal framework for contracts for the purchase of agricultural products and defines the status of the first buyers. The law introduces restrictions on trade markups, specific requirements for assortment and an electronic system for tracking the supply chain. The goal is to improve the functioning of the chain, reduce the imbalance between the participants and ensure transparency, traceability and equality.
Farmers submitted over 62,000 applications for direct payments in 2025.
The 2025 direct payments campaign was completed successfully and on time, without an extension of the application deadline. A total of 62,808 farmers submitted applications, declaring 1,124,689 parcels with a total area of 3,858,429 hectares. The data shows a trend of gradual consolidation of farms, with the greatest interest in interventions related to climate, environment and animal welfare.
Expansion of hail protection in Northern Bulgaria with new rocket platforms
The government plans to expand the hail protection system in Northern Bulgaria by building 21 new missile platforms in Pleven region, 4 in Lovech region and 3 in Veliko Tarnovo region. This will provide protection for over 230,000 hectares of agricultural land, complementing the existing system that already covers over 2 million hectares in the country's heavily hail-affected areas.
Three-party agreement to support students in hydraulic engineering
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, "Irrigation Systems" EAD and the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy signed an agreement for cooperation, aimed at encouraging the training and professional realization of students in the master's program in "Hydraulic Engineering".
Innovative achievements of Bulgaria in agriculture and food production, presented at EXPO 2025 in Osaka
The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Academy presented at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan their innovative potential in the field of sustainable agriculture, plant breeding, and the development of high-value-added foods, including space foods. The focus was on the importance of science and technology for increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and ensuring global food security.
The Ministry of Agriculture and industry organizations discussed measures to reduce bee mortality.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Stefan Burdjiev, held a meeting with representatives of beekeeping, crop production, and plant protection to discuss the complex problem of high bee mortality. The participants discussed factors such as improper application of plant protection products, lack of communication between producers, and the need for increased control.
New rates for Eco-NIP: Reduction of pesticides with state support
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced the amount of financial support under the scheme for reducing the use of pesticides (Eco-NIP) for 2024. Differentiated rates have been set for arable land, permanent crops, and permanent grassland.
Strandjan herbal tea received a European geographical indication
On June 3, 2025, the European Commission officially registered "Strandzha Herbal Tea" as a Protected Designation of Origin in the EU. This opens up new opportunities for local producers who meet the approved specification and will be controlled by an accredited certification body.
Bulgarian-Iraqi partnership in agriculture is gaining momentum
The ministers of agriculture of Bulgaria and Iraq signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will deepen cooperation in the field of agriculture and food. The document will stimulate the exchange of knowledge, scientific achievements, and trade in agricultural goods between the two countries.
The irrigation systems are ready for a full irrigation season in 2025
The state-owned company "Irrigation Systems" EAD announced its readiness for the upcoming irrigation season. The reservoirs in the country are filled to 43%, and water deliveries for irrigation are expected to reach 334,000 decares, with a potential for increase.
Blagoevgrad Region Fights the Invasion of Moroccan Locusts
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency is taking measures to control the Moroccan locusts that have attacked meadows, pastures and fallow lands in the Blagoevgrad region. Spraying against the pests started on May 20 and will continue until June 30, using authorized plant protection products.