Agriculture surveys 2023

The report provides EAFRD managing authorities and supply chain stakeholders with an analysis of the financing needs of the agri-food sector.

Based on a thorough survey of over 2 300 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, this report provides an overview of the agri-food sector’s composition, performance, demand for financing and hurdles faced when securing financing.

It also outlines agri-food enterprises’ future investment plans and expectations, highlighting the role EAFRD financial instruments play, particularly in support of environmental sustainability investments.

Through an analysis of the agriculture sector's performance, financial landscape, future projections, and responses to climate change, this document offers an overview of the financial needs and access to credit conditions of EU agricultural enterprises. Based on a thorough survey of over 6 500 farms, the study presents the market conditions available for agricultural enterprises, compared to the situation highlighted in a previous edition of the survey, conducted in 2018. It also describes a series of market failures that can be addressed with specific policy and financial measures.

The role of EAFRD financial instruments as part of the Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans is also highlighted, as a powerful tool to address market gaps and ensure a more cohesive approach to addressing the financing needs of agricultural enterprises in the European Union.

The factsheet presents an estimate of the financing gap for the agriculture and agri-food sectors in the EU. The estimate is based on the results of the ‘Survey on financial needs and access to finance of EU agriculture enterprises’ and of the ‘Survey on financial needs and access to finance of EU agri-food micro, small and medium sized enterprises in 2022’. The factsheet refers to 2022 and updates a previous estimate published by fi-compass in 2020 referring to 2017 and 2018.