Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, announced that funding of €17.8 million has been allocated to eleven new projects under the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
Minister Heydon said: “The eleven new projects receiving funding clearly show the importance of the EIP Programme in driving innovation at farm level, and in upscaling environmentally sustainable solutions to challenges faced by farmers. They include the provision to dairy, beef, sheep and tillage farmers of tailored strategies to facilitate their transition to regenerative agriculture, the promotion of regenerative agriculture practices to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity and improve the resilience of Irish farming systems, and a project dedicated to transforming nutrient management within Ireland’s tillage sector.”
EIPs are locally-led, collaborative projects which involve farmers trialling actions on farms to ensure practical outcomes and learnings that can easily be upscaled and shared.
The eleven projects selected address the theme of environmental sustainability in the farming sector, and will run for periods of between four and five years. Covering a wide range of topics and displaying a wide geographical spread. CAP Network Ireland look forward to working with the Operation Groups in the coming years, as they inform future policy development and address key priorities in the areas of soil health, regenerative and sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and the circular and bioeconomy.
Lead Applicant/Operational Group | Title of Project | Are of Work | Funding Allocated |
Regen Ireland | Regen Ireland | Regenerative Agriculture | €1,756,600 |
Teagasc – Martin Bourke | OTV IWM | Organic, Tillage and Vegetables Integrated Weed Management | €1,562,461 |
Karst Farming Network | Regenerating the Rocks | To conserve the unique species-rich karst grassland of County Roscommon | €1,600,000 |
SCEENE / Loop Head Together CLG | Soil Carbon Enhancement for Excess Nutriment | This project will demonstrate the feasibility of an eco-sustainable community circular system | €1,750,000 |
IFAC | Coordinating for Sustainability | Strengthening the Organic Beef and Lamb Supply Chain in Ireland | €1,444,000 |
South West Mayo Development Company | FARM-Up Management for Uplands | Farming And Restoration Management for Uplands | €1,749,481 |
Teagasc – Ciaran Collins | Soilcycle | nutrient management within Ireland’s tillage sector | €1,285,624 |
Upper Erne Slurry Solution OG | Upper Erne Separate Our Slurry, Save Our Soil EIP | Slurry management in the Erne Catchment area | €1,669,259
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BASE Ireland | Restoring Soil Health and Enhancing Biodiversity through Regenerative Agricultural Practices | Promote regenerative agriculture practices | €1,447,207 |
Environmental Sustainability in Agriculture (GRI) | Farm Carbon Transitions EIP | Carbon farming practices, Nature-based Solutions and active habitat management | €1,749,324 |
Hometree CLG | The Iveragh Woodlands EIP | A holistic approach to the restoration, sustainable management and conservation of native woodland habitats on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. | €1,764,696 |
Further information on the European Innovation Partnership initiative may be found on our website or at gov.ie – European Innovation Partnership Scheme (www.gov.ie).