Minister of State Pippa Hackett has said she is “delighted to be providing financial services” to Irish sustainable farming initiatives.

This comes after Farming for Nature, an Irish project developed by Burren Beo in 2018, came second place in Ashoka and Vittel’s ‘Act for Biodiversity Challenge’ this week.

Hackett congratulated Farming for Nature on becoming a prize winner at the international competition.

They work to support farmers who farm, or want to transition to farming in a way that improves the natural health of the countryside.

The project that Farming for Nature submitted, which received high praise by the judges, looks at the positive role that farmers play in looking after nature on their land.

Farming for Nature, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), will be awarded €40,000.

The initiative will also have access to an accelerator programme, where it will share with other European countries what has worked well in Ireland in sustainable farming.

Hackett added that Farming for Nature “deserves great recognition for its work in improving farmland biodiversity through supporting farming practices and by identifying, promoting and assisting farmers that improve farmland biodiversity”.

This comes at a time where there is more pressure than ever for farmers to move to using more sustainable practices, along with having to produce more food to reach demands of the growing world population.