Deadline: 7-Mar-25
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has launched its call for proposals to promote and develop the organic sector.
The purpose of the call is to support delivery of the vision of the National Organic Strategy which aims to “grow a highly productive organic food sector that secures a viable future for farmers while supporting the health of the natural environment and consumers.”
Key Priorities
- Supporting Organic Farming Participation:
- provide financial and technical assistance to encourage participation in organic farming
- facilitate access to land and resources for aspiring organic farmers
- implement initiatives to attract young farmers into the organic sector
- Coordinating the Value Chain:
- strengthen connections between farmers and processors to streamline operations
- expand processing networks to accommodate the growing organic sector
- shorten supply chains to optimise efficiency
- increase distribution capacity to meet rising demand
- Growing the Domestic Market:
- conduct market research to understand consumer preferences and needs
- clarify the benefits of organic food to consumers through targeted campaigns
- raise awareness and preference for Irish organic products among the domestic population
- Driving Export Growth:
- gain insights into market trends to capitalise on export opportunities
- promote Irish organic food in international markets, leveraging its reputation for quality and safety
- highlight the environmental credentials of Irish organic food to appeal to eco-conscious consumers abroad
- support exporters in accessing new markets through trade agreements and initiatives
- explore the opportunities around labelling to maximise the visibility and credibility of Irish organic products in foreign markets
- Expanding Public Procurement:
- support the new clear guidelines for green public procurement to prioritise organic products
- promote the availability and appeal of Irish organic produce in public institutions and facilities
- Boosting Skills and Support:
- facilitate knowledge exchange among organic farmers to share best practices and innovations
- implement education and training programs to enhance skills and expertise in organic farming
- encourage research and development initiatives to drive innovation and sustainability in the organic sector
- foster collaboration among industry stakeholders to address common challenges and opportunities
- strengthen networking platforms to facilitate communication and cooperation within the organic sector
- enhance the business capability of the organic sector through capacity-building initiatives and support services
Funding Information
- Total funding for the call is €3 million over the period 2025-2027. Maximum funding per project is €150,000 per annum and extra marks will be allocated to those projects that do not require 100% funding.
Eligibility Criteria
- Participants who wish to avail of the Scheme must:
- Be an active farmer
- Be registered with the Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
- Be registered with and be approved as an organic operator by one of the OCBs and hold a licence on or before date of submission of OFS application or at the latest hold a licence from the commencement date of their OFS contract.
- Be aged eighteen years or over on the date of application.
- Declare all land farmed in the applicant’s name on the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS)
- Have already participated in Supplementary Measure 6 (SM6) of REPS 1, REPS 2 or REPS 3 or previous OFS or must successfully complete an Approved Training Course and upload the formal Certificate of successful completion on the on-line OFS Application System on or before 1 st October 2025. The applicant participating in the course must at least 18 years old. In the case of a joint application or a partnership application, at least one of the participants must complete the course.
- Produce livestock and crop products according to European Union organic standards
- Complete an approved training course
- To be eligible to participate in this Scheme, the minimum organic farm area required is 3 hectares, except for horticultural producers where the minimum organic farm area required is 1 hectare. However, consideration will be given to horticulture applications of less than 1 hectare. In these cases, the required supporting documentation, e.g. latest set of accounts must be submitted on request to demonstrate that the applicant is managing a commercial enterprise.
For more information, visit gov.ie.