Grants of up to €50,000 are available to create and/or strengthen value chains by Moldova’s associations of small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-food sector
As announced by the European Union delegation in our country, Moldova's agricultural sector faces serious structural problems, exacerbated by the strong impact of climate change. Recurring droughts, extreme weather events, and soil degradation, combined with unstable market prices, threaten food security and economic stability in rural areas. In this context, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises through sustainable and climate-resilient solutions is no longer just an opportunity, but a strategic necessity. In response to these challenges, the Team Europe initiative “Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” was launched with financial support from the European Union and the Czech Republic. The project, with a total budget of €8.5 million, is being implemented by the Czech Development Agency and Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova in cooperation with the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre and aims to promote climate-resilient solutions, modernize agricultural practices, and adapt the agri-food sector to European Union standards. The aim of the announced grant competition is to support initiatives to create and strengthen sustainable agri-food value chains developed and coordinated by associations of small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-food sector. This initiative targets various forms of SME associations which, by performing complementary functions, contribute to the effective functioning of value chains. While associative structures engaged in direct economic activities can facilitate joint production, processing, and marketing, professional associations play an important role in sectoral coordination, the provision of support services, the promotion of quality standards, the training of members, and the facilitation of cooperation among value chain actors. SME associations in the agri-food sector are invited to participate in the competition, divided into two categories: SME associations with a commercial purpose (category 1), engaged in direct economic activities and deriving income from production, processing, and marketing; associative structures of SMEs with a professional/representative purpose (category 2), providing support, representation, training, and coordination services in the sector, not engaged in direct commercial activities. The competition gives priority to the development of value chains in the seed sector, given the strategic importance of this sector for increasing and stabilizing agricultural productivity, adapting to climate change, and reducing dependence on seed imports. In this context, priority will be given to the following categories: value chains related to the production, multiplication, processing, and marketing of corn, sorghum, industrial hemp, and cover crops; initiatives aimed at integrated production systems and organic farming. Particular attention will be paid to initiatives aimed at promoting the use of drought- and flood-resistant varieties developed and/or adapted to the eco-climatic conditions of Moldova. The total budget of the announced grant competition is €250,000, and the maximum amount of funding per initiative/project is €50,000. The competition plans to fund up to five initiatives/projects, of which at least two will be directed to associative structures of small and medium-sized enterprises pursuing commercial goals. The deadline for submitting applications is March 16. // 23.02.2026 — InfoMarket.
