Minister of State for land use and biodiversity Pippa Hackett has announced a public call by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for proposals to maximise the return to primary producers from short supply chains.
The maximum amount of grant aid available under the call is €150,000 per project.
There are five different themes to the call, namely:
- Developing premium sustainable markets closer to home for Irish producers by promoting short, efficient routes to market that connect small food producers to the consumer;
- Encouraging collaboration among stakeholders to optimise supply chain efficiency;
- Supporting small food producers by supporting on-farm diversification and investment in local processing facilities;
- Encouraging farmers markets, farm shops and food emporiums through local authorities;
- The development of community gardens, allotments and urban orchards.
The call for proposals to cover the period 2024-2026 will be open for applications from today (September 9) to October 11.
Applications can be emailed to [email protected] or sent by post to Organic Policy Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.
Commenting on the call for proposals, Minister Hackett said: “This call delivers on a number of Programme for Government commitments around promoting short supply chains and premium sustainable markets closer to home for Irish producers.
“Short supply chains bolster local economies and also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing transportation emissions.
“Shortening the distance from farm to fork has real potential to foster greater connection between consumers and producers and a greater appreciation of where our food comes from and the work that goes into producing it,” the minister added.
Minister Hackett described the proposal call as a “valuable opportunity” for food producers to put forward ideas to improve the sustainability and efficiency of these short supply chains.
“Whether it’s from a consortium or an individual operator, we want to see proposals with the potential to contribute to shaping a more resilient and sustainable food supply chain ecosystem in Ireland,” she said.