Sina WeiboNews of Organic Industry
Ireland: 5 million euros investment
Organic food processors in County Wexford are being encouraged to apply for funding under the terms of a new Grant Aid Scheme for the Development of the Organic off-farm Processing Sector. Tom Hayes, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announced the opening of the new scheme, which is wholly exchequer-funded, runs for the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme and will support investments for off-farm projects. The objective of the Organic Farming Scheme is to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.
To be eligible for this measure, farmers must be licensed by one of the five certification bodies approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, must also register with the Organic Unit of the Department and farm organically for a minimum period of 5 years. Processors can apply for grants of up to 500,000 euros for investment in facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products with minimum level of investment in excess of 3,000 euros. Some 5 million euros has been earmarked for the new scheme over its lifetime.
Copies of the terms and conditions of the new Grant Scheme, together with application forms, are available from the Organic Farming Unit, at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
Tags: Ireland , investment , organic food
