IOA welcomes new government commitment to organic sector
The Irish Organic Association (IOA) has welcomed a commitment from the new government to promote and develop the organic sector.
The comments come as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon today (Wednesday, February 12) announced the opening of a multi-annual fund to support the further promotion and development of Ireland’s organic sector from 2025 to 2027.
Over the period, €3 million is earmarked for the Organic Promotion and Development Fund, with a maximum grant aid available per project of €150,000 per annum.
The first call for innovative organic projects is open until March 7, 2025.
The IOA said that the new fund is an important way to empower organic stakeholders and kick-start new initiatives regionally and nationally across the organic supply chain.
Gillian Westbrook, Irish Organic Association chief executive, said that they are "delighted to see the incoming government’s renewed commitment to investing in organic sector-led promotion and development".
"With the latest figures for European-wide organic retail sales showing growth in 2023, the announcement of this fund over the next 3 years comes at an opportune time for Ireland’s organic sector to capitalise on market openings both at home and abroad.
“We have so many wonderful Irish organic farmers and businesses across different product categories committed to driving the organic sector forward," she said.
"This offers tremendous potential to put Irish organic produce on the map.
"There are also many opportunities for interested farmers and businesses to go organic over the coming years.
"As a result, the fund should empower existing and prospective organic stakeholders on the ground to take ownership of the priorities and actions set out in our National Organic Strategy to 2030," Westbrook added.
This week the latest production and market trends in Europe were published by the FiBL – the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture at BIOFACH 2025 trade fair in Germany.
The data shows that organic retail sales experienced growth of 3.6% in the European Union in 2023 with an overall value of €46.5 billion (€54.7 billion in Europe).
