Three Irish projects have made the shortlist for the 2024 EIP-AGRI (European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture) Innovation Awards:
• Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS), Wicklow and Dublin Mountains
• Illaun Farm-Forest Alliance, Co. Clare
• BRIDE – Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment, Co. Cork and Co. Waterford
The EIP-AGRI Operational Groups and the projects they implement are great examples of the agricultural industry coming together to apply practical and innovative solutions to challenges they face in their everyday work.
Voting lines are open until May 3rd, 2024. For more details about the 2024 EIP-AGRI Innovation Awards for Operational Groups and to cast your vote, visit the EU CAP Network website.
Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS), Wicklow and Dublin Mountains
This Operational Group addresses the declining conditions of upland habitats in the Wicklow and Dublin Mountains brought on by the increasing number of farmers moving away from grazing in the area. The project introduced Commonage Groups, fostering collective management and integrating habitat management with livestock practices. The project has led to a shift in farmer attitudes towards habitat management, diversifying farm income alongside animal production.
Watch the Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme (SUAS) Information video below:
Illaun Farm-Forest Alliance, Co. Clare
This Operational Group has developed an innovative approach to farm forests in Ireland, fostering habitat restoration, improved biodiversity, social engagement and knowledge dissemination. Pioneering a catchment-sensitive farming approach, the project collaborated closely with farmers to enhance forestry management, water quality and biodiversity. The project has resulted in securing afforestation licenses, planting thousands of trees, overcoming landowner scepticism and delivering a practical, transferable model for achieving sustainability and creating on-farm value.
Watch the Illaun Farm-Forest Alliance Information video below:
BRIDE – Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment, Co. Cork and Co. Waterford
The Operational Group addressed farmland biodiversity loss by incentivising farmers to improve habitats through a results-based payment system, rewarding farmers for biodiversity improvements. Working with over 40 farms (e.g. beef, lamb, milk) in the Bride Valley, the aim was to create a minimum of 10% ‘Space For Nature’ on each farm, so a web portal and app were developed for accurate mapping and verification. The app also generates a ‘Farmland Biodiversity Index’ and enables farmers to document biodiversity over time. Two labels were registered for farmers and food products meeting biodiversity criteria.
Watch the BRIDE Information video below:
To learn more about EIP-AGRI, click here.