Deadline: 31-Jul-21
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced the opening of the first tranche in 2021 of the Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme to help the development of the organic sector so as to ensure a regular supply of high quality organic produce to the market.
The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate the development of the organic sector so as to ensure a regular supply of high quality organic produce to the market.
The Scheme will aid organic processors who wish to invest in developing facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products.
Funding Information
Aid will be available for off-farm projects and processors can apply for grant-aid up to €700,000, which will increase the overall ceiling for each organic processor by additional €200,000 over the duration of the Scheme. The total funding for this scheme in 2021 has increased by €500,000 and will amount to €1.2 million.
Financial Assistance Available
Financial assistance will be directed towards projects which:
- improve the organic sector and provide the producers of the basic product with an opportunity of enhancing income
- help to guide production in line with foreseeable market trends or encourage the development of new outlets for agricultural products
- help to improve production, handling and preparation of organic produce
- facilitate the adoption and application of new technologies
- help to ensure the adoption of “best practice” within the organic production/processing sector
- develop facilities for preparation, grading, packing, storage, distribution, or the sale of organic products as part of a wider organic operation
Eligibility Criteria
The Scheme is open to organic operators who:
- are licensed organic operators registered with an approved organic certification body
- are currently registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development
- agree to provide relevant bank/building society/credit union details to ensure that all payments made by the Department are paid by electronic fund transfer
- provide a copy of Business Plan
For more information, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ccdf0-minister-hackett-launches-organic-processing-investment-grant-scheme/
