Minister Heydon welcomes 269 new organic farmers to the Organic Farming Scheme
- Published on: 11 February 2026
- Last updated on: 11 February 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today announced that there will be approximately 269 new organic farmers participating in the latest tranche of the Organic Farming Scheme this year, subject to them meeting all scheme requirements.
Minister Heydon said:
“I am delighted to welcome these new members into the Organic Farming Scheme, and I wish them well on this exciting new journey for their enterprises. My Department continues to support farmers in their conversion to organic farming. Our priority is to ensure the success of the sector as it continues to grow, helping Ireland to increase its production of organic food while also delivering on our country’s ambitious environmental and climate goals.”
The Minister concluded:
“Organic farming is acknowledged within the EU as delivering a high level of environmental performance, as many organic practices automatically contribute positively to soil health and water quality, enhance biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase resilience, and enhance carbon stocks in soils.”
Notes to Editor
Ireland's Climate Action Plan has a target of 10% of land area farmed organically by 2030. The aim is to reach this target by supporting farmers to convert to organic farming through the Organic Farming Scheme, enhanced advisory support and increased promotion as well as developing market demand.
Organic Farmers must be registered with an organic certification body, over 18, attend a 25-hour training course in their first-year farming organically, submit a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application form annually and comply with organic standards. Further information is available on the Department’s website Terms and Conditions of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) 2026.
The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the department's CAP Strategic Plan which is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Union (EU). For more information, visit CAP Strategic Plan for Ireland.
The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between society and agriculture that ensures a stable supply of food, safeguards farmers’ income, protects the environment and keeps rural areas vibrant. EU countries implement the CAP at national level with a tailored CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.