Germany’s Future Forum for Rural Development explores how land and buildings can be used wisely

Hosted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, the annual forum allows stakeholders – from national, regional and local governments to public institutions, academia, civil society and others – to exchange on all matters rural. This year, the key focus was on using land and buildings intelligently and how rural communities can shape their common future. More than a thousand people attended the event in person, with a similar number participating online. 

Discussions explored how villages, towns and districts can influence and shape their economic, environmental and social future through planning decisions and other measures. For example, through creative ideas to make use of buildings that no longer meet their initial needs or have been abandoned, and joint actions between groups of municipalities to tackle issues going beyond administrative borders, such as provision of health and social care and mobility issues. 

Housing, community spaces, agriculture, energy production, commerce, transport and nature conservation all require space, which can result in conflicts around land use. In fact, Germany is currently losing over 50 hectares a day of agricultural land to other uses, and this is set to double by the end of the decade as other policies are implemented (e.g. building of renewable energy sources, housing construction and investments in transport links – all accompanied by mandatory nature compensation measures). Participants highlighted some promising solutions for integrating the diverse needs into local spatial planning decisions, including the use of participatory processes and multifunctional land-use concepts. 

The debate then focused on buildings and their uses, for example, for housing, commerce, culture and services. Participants considered how to address the changing housing needs of older and younger people in rural areas. Other topics included keeping village centres vibrant, revitalising vacant buildings, energy-efficient building renovations, creating and using multifunctional buildings, use of renewable resources (e.g. timber construction) and maintenance of local construction methods and styles.  

Discussions also centred on spaces for encounters, networking, civic engagement and volunteering, as well as people's connection to their area. ‘Third places’ (i.e. outside of home and workplaces) and cultural venues are important spaces for people to identify with their rural area. Participants explored how digital applications can contribute to networking among people or to greater transparency and efficiency, for example, in administrative processes that span different regions. 

The future of investment in rural development took centre stage in the plenary discussion. German municipalities of all sizes continue to face significant financial constraints. The European Commission’s proposals on the future of EU funding for rural areas met with concern – both on the change in how funding would be programmed and implemented, and the role that rural communities will have in these processes. Participants noted that many urban development issues can be addressed by ensuring sustainable development of rural areas.  

Some expressed concern about how areas are classified, as a significant number of rural communities are included with their local towns and treated administratively as urban areas. Participants stressed the importance of local control of rural decision-making and of keeping the LEADER approach, expressing the hope that the Commission’s proposals will lead to simplification of EU funding regulations.  

On top of the discussions, the forum featured a ‘Market of Opportunities’ with 16 stands of selected stakeholders, a ‘Meeting Point’ space for participants to engage with speakers, a job exchange to advertise vacancies and job seekers in rural areas, and a best practice board to showcase best practices related to the event’s theme. 

The Future Forum on Rural Development is held in Berlin every year alongside the Green Week agricultural fair. The forum’s 20th edition is scheduled for 20-21 January 2027.