The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett today announced the opening of the first tranche in 2021 of the Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme with effect from 1 June 2021.
The Scheme will aid organic processors who wish to invest in developing facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products.
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.
Announcing the opening of this tranche, Minister of State Hackett stated that, “The Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme further emphasises my commitment to developing all sectors of the Irish organic industry. Supports are already in place for organic farmers with the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Capital Investment Scheme. The Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme will assist processors in the processing of organic products produced by Irish organic farmers.”
The Minister of State further added, “There are currently great opportunities for the Irish agri-food sector. Demand for organic produce continues to increase year on year and I am fully committed to developing the organic sector as a wonderful opportunity for the Irish agri-food sector. This Scheme is a further initiative in that direction. It will assist existing organic processors meet the growing demand for organic food, both in Ireland and abroad.”
The Scheme will open in tranches; this first tranche will open from 1 June 2021 to 31 July 2021. The next tranche will open from 1 August 2021. Copies of the terms and conditions of the Grant Scheme, together with application forms, are available from the Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Johnstown Castle Wexford and on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/service/51e8d-organic-processing-investment-grant-scheme/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/organic-processing-investment-grant-scheme/
With the opening of this Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme, together with the re-opening of the Organic Farming Scheme and the Organic Capital Investment Scheme earlier this year, we are delivering on the Department’s Action Plan 2021 targets for further supporting and developing the organic sector.
More Information
This organic support scheme is a fully nationally funded Scheme to assist in the development of the organic processing sector.
It will operate in tranches; this first tranche will open Tuesday 1 June 2021. Applications to be received by post or email by 31 July 2021. The next tranche will open from 1 August 2021 to 31 October 2021.
The terms and condition for the Scheme together with application forms are available on the Department’s website.
The Department’s Statement of Strategy (2021 – 2024) and Action Plan 2021 can be viewed on the Department’s website at the following address: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a9d51-statement-of-strategy-2021-2024/
