This is a great opportunity for many farmers to maximise sustainability and future-proof their business
by reducing their input costs.
Today, I can confirm the opening of the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Processing Investment Grant for applications.
The current level of interest in organic farming in Ireland is unprecedented, and today is a further significant milestone as we continue towards our target of 10% of agricultural land farmed organically by 2030.
The reopening of the Organic Farming Scheme will allow us to support even more farmers to produce food in a way that is good for climate, nature and water quality, while the Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme will add value to that organic food further down the supply chain, ultimately helping to improve farm gate prices.
In the last two years alone, the number of organic farms has more than doubled, and there has been significant investment made in market development. The momentum of the organic sector is now very strongly underpinned by Government policy and supported by State Agencies including Teagasc and Bord Bia, as well as the private advisory services in ACA and the Organic Certification Bodies. This is a great opportunity for many farmers to maximise sustainability and future-proof their business by reducing their input costs.
I have recently returned from Germany where I launched our first-ever co-funded European pasture-fed organic beef and lamb campaign. I know from the organic trade missions I have led that European retailers I met are confident about the future of the sector and that they are looking for regular supply of quality organic Irish produce at scale. This is a huge opportunity, and Bord Bia will continue to promote Irish organic food both at home and abroad, including in the key German market, which is worth €16 billion per year.
The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under Ireland’s 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan. Drystock farmers entering into a contract could qualify for yearly payments of up to €300 per hectare during the conversion period, and up to €250 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status. Higher payment rates are available for organic horticultural and tillage farmers. In addition, a participation payment of €2,000 in the first year of conversion and €1,400 per annum thereafter has been introduced to support organic farmers.
ENDS
More information on both schemes is available below.
Organic Farming Scheme https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d46aec-organic-farming-scheme/
Organic Processing Investment Grant https://www.gov.ie/en/service/51e8d-organic-processing-investment-grant-scheme/#terms-and-conditions