Minister Hayes launches €5m investment scheme for organic processing sector

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes TD, today announced the opening of the new Grant Aid Scheme for the Development of the Organic off-farm Processing Sector with immediate effect.

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. Processors can apply for grants of up to €500,000 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. €5m has been earmarked for the new scheme over its lifetime.

Minister Hayes said “I am committed to developing the organic sector as an opportunity for the Irish agri-food sector in general and this Scheme is a further initiative to help existing organic processors meet the growing demand for organic food, both in Ireland and abroad.”

“Substantial support for organic farmers already exists through the new TAMS Organic Capital Investment Scheme which I launched recently and this new off-farm scheme now offers similar support for the organic processing sector” added Minister Hayes.

Copies of the terms and conditions of the new Grant Scheme, together with application forms, are available from the Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Wexford. Email:organicunit@agriculture.gov.ie Phone: 053-9163400