Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has joined with ABP Ireland to officially launch the ABP Young Farmer Academy.

The new national initiative financially supporting young beef farmers across Ireland is aiming to address the generational renewal challenge in Irish agriculture.

Minister Heydon launched the academy on the farm of programme participant Thomas O’Conor in Moone, Athy, Co. Kildare.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), in 2023 just 4.3% of Irish farm-holders were under the age of 35.

As part of the ABP Advantage Programme, the Young Farmer Academy aims to address generational renewal by supporting young farmers through a combination of financial backing and technical advice.

The initiative is designed to help young farmers develop profitable, sustainable beef enterprises.

The scheme, which is open to farmers aged 35 and under, offers participation in a five-year programme that includes ABP financing the calf purchase, interim payments to aid cashflow, finishing bonuses, and access to dedicated advice and support from the ABP team.

The programme is open to both dairy and suckler beef systems.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Martin Heydon welcomed "ABP’s leadership in supporting the next generation of Irish farmers".

"The ABP Young Farmer Academy will help young people build sustainable, resilient farm businesses that contribute positively to the environment and our rural communities," he said.

Kevin Cahill, managing director, ABP Ireland, said that "starting in farming is incredibly challenging".

"We are delighted to launch this initiative on Thomas O’Conor’s farm today (Monday, July 7) and to back the next generation of Irish beef producers," he said.

Cahill said that the ABP Young Farmer Academy complements national policy objectives for generational renewal in farming and aligns with existing industry frameworks. ABP is one of Europe’s leading privately owned agribusiness companies and is the largest beef processor in Ireland and the UK.