The Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) Scheme is now open for another round of applications from groups seeking to be recognised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Producer Organisations are officially recognised entities set up by primary producers to increase the collective bargaining power of their members and ultimately improve the position of farmers in the value chains for which they provide raw materials.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Heydon emphasised the advantages of farmer collaboration through Producer Organisations (POs), stating: “Recognised Producer Organisations provide opportunities for groups of farmers to come together to coordinate activities and improve supply chain management with potential buyers. They facilitate farmer collaboration, knowledge exchange, and undertake joint activities such as bulk purchasing of inputs and machinery, and labour sharing. I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date by the sheep sector and would like to encourage applications from primary producers in other sectors as well.”
The scheme supports POs during their first three years following recognition. Grant funding of up to €10,000 per annum is available to cover eligible administrative costs, including hiring personnel and acquiring relevant technology. Additionally, a separate grant of up to €3,000 is provided to refund fees for legal and business advice obtained on matters related to PO formation and application submission.
Individuals or groups interested in participating in the scheme are advised to examine the scheme’s terms and conditions on the Department’s website, seek appropriate advice, and submit applications before the deadline. It should be noted that the scheme will continue to accept applications at intervals after the current window closes.
Launched last April as part of the multi-annual CAP Strategic Plan, the ESSPO Scheme is designed to support the formation and establishment of POs in seven sectors: beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables. Eight recognised POs – primarily in the sheep sector – are currently eligible for support under the scheme.
The ESSPO Scheme is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027. Applications for recognition are being accepted on a rolling basis from 2025 to 2027.
Applicant POs must:
- be set up on the initiative of producers and be led by producers
- have a minimum of 20 active members (beef, milk and sheep sectors) or have a minimum of 5 active members (other sectors)
- be registered as a legal entity or a clearly defined part of a legal entity
- have a combined value of marketed production (VMP) of more than €2.5 million in the fruit and vegetable sector
- have a combined VMP of more than €1.5 million in the potato, tillage and amenity plant sectors
Applications and queries on the scheme should be directed to the dedicated email address: PO@agriculture.gov.ie. The application window is open from for a six-week period, until 19 May 2026.
Further information about the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) scheme can be found here.
