BUNDESANSTALT FÜR LANDWIRTSCHAFT UND ERNÄHRUNG
Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)

Country: Germany

The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, BLE) is a German institution under public law, directly subordinated to the Federal Government and empowered to conduct business on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

The BLE fulfils a variety of tasks: Its mandate includes carrying out measures, which strengthen agriculture, food production, fishery and forestry as well as rural areas.

In addition, the BLE acts as funding body for Research and Innovation and as programme manager for BMEL on national, European and international level in the field of agriculture and food production. Related programme is a specific programme dedicated to transnational cooperation supporting initiatives like ERA-NETs and JPIs.

The BLE unit “European Research Affairs” has its focus on the coordination and collaboration towards ERA and has been closely following and participating in the activities of FACCE-JPI and JPI HDHL. Furthermore, the BLE is currently a partner in 13 14 ERA-NETs along the whole value-added chain. The BLE is also member of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) on behalf of BMEL.