The Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries of the Basque Government presented its 2027 budget project today before the Committee on Finance and Budgets of the Basque Parliament, amounting to 272.98 million euros. This figure represents 5.70 million euros more than the initial 2026 budget, an increase of 2.1%.
Nearly four out of every five euros of the budget will be directly channeled to support investments, activities, and services linked to the Basque agri-food chain and rural and coastal areas. Specifically, 215 million euros will be allocated through transfers and subsidies to the sector, the territory, and the entities that serve them.
The Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, emphasized that “this is a budget designed to strengthen the entire Basque agri-food chain, from those who produce in the field or at sea to those who transform and generate value, and to continue creating opportunities in our towns and along our coast. It is a budget that champions investment, generational renewal, innovation, and services and infrastructures capable of responding to the needs of the sector and the territory”.
The budget is structured around two main areas. The Vice-Ministry of Food and Rural Development will have 204.44 million euros to promote the primary sector, rural development, the food industry, food quality and promotion, as well as the management of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Vice-Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Development, on the other hand, will have 61.23 million euros, an increase of 10.8%, making it the fastest-growing area with nearly six million additional euros.
To promote generational renewal and new opportunities in the agricultural sector, 1.5 million euros will be allocated in 2027 to support young people entering the agri-food sector, continuing the Comprehensive Strategy for Generational Renewal. Additionally, 3.70 million euros are reserved to strengthen entrepreneurship and advisory services. 300,000 euros will be allocated to the Euskadi Preben strategy, aimed at enhancing occupational safety.
Regarding rural development, 28.61 million euros will be allocated through programs like EREIN and LEADER to finance equipment, basic services, and entrepreneurship projects. The BEROSI program will be expanded, including a new line of 200,000 euros to bring food and telecommunications services to rural areas, including the installation of fiber optic.
The food industry will receive over 37 million euros to support business investment through programs such as Lehiatu and Kooperatu. Innovation will receive 15.75 million euros, through programs like Ikerbat and Onekin, and scholarships for the Basque wine sector.
The Directorate of Food Quality and Promotion will see a 33.7% budget increase, with approximately 18 million euros allocated for aid. Highlights include 4.01 million euros for the EDA Drinks & Wine Campus and 3 million euros for the Gernika Market and the Busturialdea agricultural sector. Support for the Eusko Label brand and organic production will be maintained.
The Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture will have 29 million euros to modernize the fleet and industry, and support generational renewal through the Itsasoratu program. 10.41 million euros will be allocated to improve the competitiveness of fishing, commercial, and processing structures, and 4.5 million euros for the ice factories in Ondarroa and Bermeo. 3.02 million euros will be invested in the Community Fisheries Data Collection Program, and 2.10 million euros to promote the Blue Economy.
The Directorate of Ports, Maritime Affairs, and the Coastline will receive 32.22 million euros, a 22% increase. Investments in ports will rise by nearly 50%, reaching 15.44 million euros, and together with investments in fishing areas, will exceed 19 million euros. Actions will include the Mutriku breakwater (9.52 million euros) and the renovation of the Elantxobe pier, as well as repairs to piers in Ondarroa and Donostia (3.36 million euros) and dredging of the Zumaia and Deba estuaries (2.10 million euros).
