FEADER 70.29 — MAEC: improving the pollination potential of bees (API)

Scheme overview

The FEADER 70.29 intervention is an Agri-Environmental and Climate Measures (MAEC) scheme designed to improve the pollination potential of bees in Guadeloupe. It aims to better distribute hives across the region, strengthen the pollination service provided by domestic bees, and support biodiversity, particularly in areas of high ecological value.

Supported actions

The scheme supports changes in beekeeping practices in order to:

• install hives in different locations and at different times across farmed areas, to ensure the pollination service in space and over time;
• take wild entomology into account in areas of high ecological value;
• maintain bee populations, strengthen apiary health management, preserve pollinators' food resources and help maintain biodiversity;
• indirectly support honey production through better coverage of the region by apiaries.

The aid is calculated as a flat-rate amount per committed colony and covers the additional cost associated with the change in practices, in particular monitoring of hive sites, extra working time, and the constraints linked to placing part of the hives in areas favourable to biodiversity.

Eligible beneficiaries

Applications may in particular be submitted by:

• individuals and companies carrying out a farming activity;
• groups of individuals or companies carrying out a farming activity;
• foundations, non-profit associations, non-profit agricultural establishments and agricultural teaching or research establishments operating a farm.

The applicant must have filed an area declaration with the competent services, be affiliated with an occupational contribution fund, and hold at least 60 colonies. The committed colonies must have been declared to the competent authority.

Mandatory annual commitments

The scheme operates on an annual commitment basis: an application covers a one-year period, and a new application may be submitted for a subsequent year.

The beneficiary must in particular:

• commit at least 60 colonies and permanently hold at least the number of committed colonies;
• have at least three hive sites;
• provide one additional hive site for every 20 committed colonies;
• occupy each hive site for at least four weeks;
• comply with a minimum distance of 1,000 metres between two hive sites, reduced to 500 metres in the presence of certain natural obstacles;
• place at least half of the committed hive sites in an area of interest for biodiversity for at least four weeks;
• record the hive sites, the number of colonies and the dates of relocation in the apiary register;
• comply with the CAP aid cross-compliance rules and complete the annual declaration required on TéléPAC.

These requirements are essential conditions for eligibility and for maintaining the aid: simply owning hives is not sufficient.

Aid amount and funding

The flat-rate aid is €33 per committed colony per year. No minimum amount or specific overall financial cap is set out in the notice for this intervention.

The maximum public aid rate is 100%. FEADER co-finances 85% of the amount of public aid; this European rate must not be interpreted as covering 85% of all of the farm's expenses. The budget allocated to the intervention is €500,000 in FEADER funds for the 2023–2027 period. No advance payment is planned.

Indicative example: 60 committed colonies correspond to a theoretical aid of €1,980 for one year, subject to compliance with all conditions and validation of the application.

Submission and selection

Applications are submitted and selected on a rolling basis. Under the notice currently in force, except for the 2025 exception, applications must be submitted between 1 January and 15 May of the year concerned. The regional presentation page also states an annual deadline; the exact timetable should therefore be confirmed in the notice and on Euro-PAC for the relevant campaign.

If the available funding is insufficient to cover all admissible applications, the Region may give priority to projects with the greatest environmental impact, in particular those located in areas of environmental concern and those forming part of a collective approach.

Capital OS matching rules

Surface the 70.29 intervention for beekeeping farms in Guadeloupe that hold at least 60 colonies and can organise hive sites in line with the MAEC commitments.

Matching checks:

1. location and farming activity compliant;

2. minimum of 60 declared colonies;

3. area declaration and professional affiliation required;

4. minimum of three hive sites, then one additional hive site for every 20 colonies;

5. minimum duration of four weeks per hive site and minimum distances complied with;

6. at least half of the hive sites in an area favourable to biodiversity for four weeks;

7. apiary register kept up to date and annual TéléPAC declaration completed;

8. compliance with the submission window applicable to the year concerned.

Do not classify this aid as a general grant for purchasing hives or beekeeping equipment: it provides flat-rate payment for annual commitments to change environmental practices.

Official sources

• FEADER Guadeloupe Region page — Improving the pollination potential of bees (70.29): https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/financement/feader-region-guadeloupe_amelioration-potential-pollinisateur-abeilles/
• FEADER 70.29 notice, version 1, in force since 18 December 2025: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Notice_70.29_IT16_0.0.0_V1_251218.pdf
• FEADER Guadeloupe regional strategic plan, April 2026 version: https://www.europe-guadeloupe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PSR_FEADER_V6.pdf

Minor budget discrepancy

The dedicated fact sheet and notice 70.29 state €500,000 in FEADER funding, while some summary materials show €500,001. Use €500,000 based on the dedicated fact sheet and the operational notice, flagging the one-euro discrepancy in the audit.