5-fold increase in rates for organic farmers

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett has announced a proposed 5-fold increase in rates for farmers participating in the Organic Farming Scheme. These are subject to approval by the European Commission as part of the ongoing discussions on approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan and would apply from 1 January 2023.

Announcing the new rates the Minister said;

"The budget proposed for this scheme under the next CAP is a 5-fold increase on what was previously available. This is my commitment to growing and investing in the Irish organic sector. I have engaged with stakeholders and industry and there is broad acceptance that the environmental and socio-economic benefits of Organic farming are needed now more than ever.

“The new enhanced rates are reflective of my commitment to ensure that our Programme for Government target of 7.5% of farmland to be under organic production by the end of the CAP cycle of 2027, is achieved. I am confident that these new rates will entice in many new farmers to organic farming and I would encourage every farmer to consider it and be ready for when the new scheme opens this autumn.”

The overall 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. The Minister announced a €5m increase in funding for organic farming in 2022, allowing the organic farming scheme to open for new entrants in response to high demand in 2021. The total budget of €23m marks a doubling of the organic sector budget since the Green Party entered government.