Bord Bia will see an increase in funding for next year following the announcement of Budget 2025 yesterday (Tuesday, October 1).
In the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s allocation for 2025, €59.5 million has been ringfenced for Bord Bia, according to Minister of State for new market development Martin Heydon.
This funding is a €2.5 million increase on the €57 million allocation for Bord Bia announced in Budget 2024 for this year.
Commenting on the Bord Bia funding, Minister Heydon: “This funding will support Bord Bia’s work in helping to develop market opportunities at home and abroad.
“It is crucial that we invest in new market developments once market access is secured.
“Irish agri-food produce is competing in a competitive global marketplace and communicating our unique strengths around safety, sustainability, and quality is more important than ever as we seek to increase the value of our food exports,” he said.
Minister Heydon’s area of responsibility also includes farm safety, and he said that Budget 2025 funding of €2.5 million for safety, health and wellbeing will allow for the continuation of existing initiatives as well the development of new initiatives to improve farm safety and wellness among the farming community.
Minister Heydon said: “I am determined to make Irish farms safer places to live and work.
“Securing an expansion of accelerated capital allowance for a broader range of farm safety investments has been a priority of mine.”
According to the minister, investments that will now be eligible for accelerated capital allowances include fixed sheep handling units; cattle crushes and races; calving gates; flood lights; livestock monitors; and sliding or roller doors.
“This will provide further support to farmers to invest in facilities and equipment which not only helps to improve farm safety, but also contributes to improving efficiencies on the farm,” he said.
The accelerated capital allowance scheme for farm safety equipment has been allocated a budget of €5 million per year.
Farmers can avail of capital allowances of 50% per annum to be claimed over an accelerated two-year period on these investments, as opposed to the standard period of eight years for plant and machinery.
Farmers availing of the accelerated capital allowances on these farm safety structures and equipment will also be able to avail of 60% grant aid under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS).
The third part of Minister Heydon’s portfolio is research and development. €21.6 million has been allocated for that purpose in 2025.
“Science is at the heart of Irish agriculture, and it is critical that we continue to invest in research, developing the tools for Irish farmers to remain at the cutting edge of efficiency and sustainability,” the minister said.
He added: “Research has demonstrated the potential of feed additives to reduce methane emissions from livestock, has produced the world’s first national genomic evaluations for methane emissions in Irish beef cattle, and shown that multispecies swards can reduce nitrogen fertiliser requirements.
“This type of public-good research is now leading to changes in farm practice and contributing to improving the sustainability of Irish agriculture and food production,” Minister Heydon said.