The opening of the Results-Based Environment-Agri Pilot Project (REAP) has been announced today (Wednesday, April 21) by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.
This pilot will open from today and remain open for applications until May 10.
It is designed to pilot some measures now, for possible inclusion later, under the next CAP measures for Ireland from 2023 onwards.
Land brought into REAP will be scored in year one to establish its environmental and biodiversity status. In conjunction with their advisor, farmers will undertake environmental improvement works to increase the environmental value of existing farm features – with the aim of improving the environmental score in year two.
Farms with the highest scoring will receive the greatest payment.
Farmers can expect to receive an average annual payment of up to €4,700, with a maximum payment of €6,900 available.
Maximum payment is dependent on a farmer complying with all the detailed criteria as outlined in the terms and conditions of the scheme.
The results-based approach “has the potential to deliver significant environmental and income gains and is expected to feature strongly as the flagship agri-environmental scheme under the new CAP [Common Agricultural Policy]”, the department says.
According to the Department of Agriculture, REAP will provide an opportunity to test the results based model on a national basis in preparation for the next agri-environment scheme to follow on from GLAS.
Further details on how farmers will be paid through the scheme has been revealed by Agriland here.
Commenting at the launch, Minister McConalogue said:
“I’m hugely excited about this REAP project as it helps us and farmers identify value we can bring to our next national agri-environmental scheme by trialling some measures now. It will identify the environmental and biodiversity returns from specific farm measures while delivering a key new incomes to farmers.”
The minister added: “It’s the first time we have scaled up results-based environmental farming to this level and it will help incentivise farmers to deliver for the environment by ensuring that those with the best environmental scores receive the highest pay.
“The project will also support farm incomes by providing up to €12,600 to participating farms over the two-year term of their REAP contract.
The minister concluded: “This measure complements very well the existing agri-environment measures such as GLAS, Organics and EIPs all of which we have continued in 2021 to give farmers certainty during this transitional period.
“I would encourage any eligible farmer to apply and I look forward to working with all stakeholders on this initiative as we develop our schemes for the next CAP.”