Additional costs and PlanetProof AGF compensation from 2026

From 2026, farmers will receive an updated sustainability compensation for PlanetProof AGF. This compensation is based on an independent recalculation of additional costs by CLM, commissioned by SMK. The recalculation takes into account changes in the program, such as new requirements for electricity and buffer zones. The compensation is paid entirely by supermarkets to the producers and is included in the total price.

The calculations consider legal obligations and include an inflation adjustment. For example, measures that are already required for the GLB basic payment or as part of the eco-scheme are counted as additional costs. Regarding electricity, this means that from 2026, green electricity must be purchased in certain situations. Costs have been estimated using Guarantees of Origin, with an average price of €9 per MWh. For arable farming, this comes to €13.50/ha per year, for VGG €9/ha, and for pome fruit €38/ha.

Transparency and reporting in the chain

The compensation is fully transparent and is reported annually by supermarkets to suppliers. This makes it clear what farmers receive for their sustainable efforts. Questions about settlements or whether the full compensation has been received can be discussed with the buyer. For general questions about the scheme, SMK is the point of contact.

Besides electricity, other measures also play a role. For buffer zones near surface water, for example, an additional strip of 3 to 5 meters is required. Non-chemical control of thrips and weeds is also mandatory, with associated labor and material costs. Mechanical weed control averages €216/ha in arable farming and €152/ha in VGG, while fruit and stone fruit have higher costs.

Application and next steps

The scheme currently applies only to unprocessed AGF but will later be extended to processed products. Suppliers and buyers will use the new list of amounts when making agreements for the coming growing season. This ensures the compensation better reflects real-world practices and the costs of sustainable production, from energy use to soil management and biodiversity measures.

Smk.nl