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Agri-Food and the Economy
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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The agri-food sector is Ireland’s oldest and largest indigenous exporting sector. In 2020, the sector accounted for over 6% of GNI and 9% of exports in value terms. The sector accounts for 38% of total indigenous exports and over 60% of indigenous manufactured exports. The sector employed 163,600 people or 7.1% of total employment in 2020; outside of Dublin and the mid-east region, the sector provides between 10% and 14% of employment. Some 137,500 farms producing over €8.2 billion in output; over 770,000 hectares of forest; and over 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites producing fish with a value of €700 million, underpin the sector. In Ireland, agri-food is an integral part of the economy and society, and especially so for our rural and coastal communities.
Access to finance is a crucial business need and, as well as liaising with the main banks on issues relating to the agri-food sector, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Finance. This partnership approach has yielded important supports for businesses, most recently to ensure that they have access to finance during the pandemic and also to help deal with the challenges brought about by Brexit. Such co-operation offers the benefits of shared responsibility and consistent policymaking, as well as other synergies. These supports have been delivered with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and with the support of the EIB Group
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in cooperation with other State bodies, continues to explore additional funding mechanisms for the agri-food sector and for SMEs generally.
The ‘Ireland Strategic Investment Fund’ (ISIF) has also been exploring opportunities for providing funding to the agri-food sector. Finance Ireland, supported by funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Rabobank, makes the MilkFlex loan product available through participating Co-Ops across Ireland. The facility offers flexible, competitively priced loans to dairy farmers with repayments linked to movements in milk price.
In order to mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, the Government has engaged with the banks on the specific liquidity and financing needs of farmers, fishers and agri-food businesses. The need for the banks to support and work with their customers through this challenging period has been stressed. On foot of this engagement a range of Liquidity and Access to Finance supports have been made available for businesses impacted by the current economic disruption, including farmers and fishers.
The advice to farmers, fishers and agri-food businesses is to engage with the bank at an early stage to discuss cashflow issues as soon as they are identified.
DAFM continues to engage with the banks and the Department of Finance in this regard.
Financial supports available
| Support Scheme | Agri-food businesses | Primary Production (Farmers & Fishers) |
| Brexit Impact Loan Scheme | Yes | Yes |
| Future Growth Loan Scheme | Yes | Yes |
| Microfinance Ireland* | Yes | Yes |
| Covid 19 Credit Guarantee Scheme | Yes | Yes |
- The Microfinance Maximum loan amount is currently €25,000
• The recently launched €330m Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS) is delivered under the European Guarantee Fund (EGF). Delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and underpinned by a counter guarantee from the European Investment Fund (EIF). The Brexit Impact Loan Scheme will be offered under the EGF Regime by analogy to the Temporary State Aid Framework for State aid measures.
The BILS supports qualifying viable Irish businesses and primary producers (farmers and fishers) by providing access to affordable medium-term finance enabling them to invest in their business.
For more information on the BIL supports please click here .
• The €800m Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS) is a long-term loan facility (7-10 years) that is offered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) underpinned by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), and by a counter guarantee from the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is part of the European Investment Bank Group. A €200million second tranche of this Scheme was delivered in 2020. The FGLS provides capital investment to eligible businesses, with 40% of overall funding (€80million) ring-fenced specifically for farmers, fishers and agri-food SMEs.
For more information on the FGLS please click here .
• The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme - On the 7th of September 2020 Minister McConalogue alongside the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, launched the €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the largest of its kind in the history of the state. As recovery continues, many COVID-impacted businesses will require additional liquidity and working capital facilities. The Scheme is designed to incentivise finance providers to continue to support economic activity by providing liquidity and finance agreements to businesses.
The Scheme is targeted towards businesses which have experienced
1. An adverse impact of minimum 15% in actual or projected turnover or profit due to the impact of COVID 19 and
2. have difficulties in accessing credit.
The CCGS provides an 80% State-backed guarantee on bank lending to SMEs until the end of 2021. The scheme is administered for the State by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and SMEs apply directly to the banks for the required funding. The guarantee can be used for a wide range of lending products for amounts between €10,000 and €1 million, for terms between 3 months and 6 years. It will be available to all SME sectors, including primary producers, i.e. farmers and fishers.
The CCGS is delivered under the State Aid Temporary Framework adopted by the European Commission on 19 March 2020
For more information on the CCGS please click here .
Further information on these and other supports is available via the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employments website here .
There are a variety of other Government supports for investment and development, not least under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) . The forthcoming CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 includes a Capital Investment Scheme to provide grant support for on-farm investments. A general grant aid rate of 40% will apply, with 60% available for Young Trained farmers and Trained Women Farmers.
Bord Bia’s Online Learning Zone Vantage provides a space where Bord Bia Small Business clients can enhance and develop skills on topics most important to them and their business. Users can enrol in a multitude of online modules such as, ‘Diversification into Foodservice’ and ‘Preparation for Buyer Meetings’ and many more. Each module offers concise and comprehensive insights while also providing you with the necessary skills and learnings to apply to everyday decision making.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) has specialist teams and a suite of supports for businesses. EI works with high potential start-ups, established SMEs and larger companies. Available supports include innovation and skills vouchers, mentoring and Research &Development funding.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced a competitive public procurement procedure under the 2020 Rural Innovation and Development Fund for the provision of a Service for the Development and Delivery of a Programme for Nascent Rural Female Entrepreneurial Development seeking proposals from suitable, experienced service providers who have the capability and vision, to develop and implement a tailored work programme to address the skills, enterprise and capability gaps of rural nascent female entrepreneurs and takes into account the barriers which can limit entrepreneurial activity in rural areas.
The contract was awarded to Fitzsimons Consulting who run the ACORNS programme. An extension to this contract was granted in July 2021, 2022 and 2023. A new tender process is due in 2024.
ACORNS (Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups) programme is designed to encourage a stronger level of enterprise development in rural areas targeted at emerging female entrepreneurs. It provides a tailored, focussed approach that takes into account the specific challenges which face female entrepreneurs generally as well as barriers which can limit entrepreneurial activity in rural areas. The Acorns 9 programme runs from October 2023 until April 2024 and provides up to 50 entrepreneurs with the knowledge, support and networking opportunities to meet and exceed their aspirations.
Further information is available from www.acorns.ie
Following a competitive public procurement procedure under the 2021 Rural Innovation and Development Fund, the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. announced the successful tenderers that will receive funding totalling almost €377,000 for social farming model projects:
- Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG – for the provision of a Social Farming Model Project where social farming is mainstreamed as an option for people accessing supports across a range of sectors and services and where placements are fully commissioned.
- Down Syndrome Irl (Cork Branch) – to provide opportunities for participation in a purpose-built farm, the Field of Dreams with horticulture and animal care elements which will bring long lasting wellness benefits to participants.
- South Kerry Development Partnership – for a Social Farming Model Project which will increase participant and host farmers engagement so that the social farming opportunity is available to more people in Kerry and to offer choice to people with disabilities to engage with farm families in meeting their personal life choices.
- IRD Duhallow – for a Social Farming model project which will promote rehabilitation, social inclusion, training and improved quality of life in a non-clinical setting using agriculture including plants and animals for people across a wide spectrum of disability.
In addition to the model projects, the contract with Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG for the provision of a Social Farming Network is also been extended for a further year. The extension of this contract with associated funding of €400,000 will allow for the further development of the national social farming network known as “Social Farming Ireland”. Social Farming Ireland works in collaboration with other Local Development Companies, namely West Limerick Resources, Waterford Leader Partnership and South West Mayo Development Company where regional Social Farming development officers are based.
Social farming is the practice of offering, on a voluntary basis, farming and horticultural participation in a farming environment as a choice to people who avail of a range of therapeutic day support services. These operations are run in a number of settings ranging from working family farms, local community initiatives through to more institutional frameworks and are widely practiced across Europe.
Experience has shown that well run operations provide an opportunity for inclusion for disadvantaged groups to increase their self esteem and improve health and well-being. When operating from a working family farm, these initiatives support farm diversification and help farmers connect with the wider community. From a Government perspective, they also provide a collaborative framework for different Departments and agencies to work together.
• Agri-food tourism broadly is the practice of offering an activity or activities as part of a visit to areas of well-known agricultural produce and to sample and taste the local or regional cuisine or specialties. Agri-food tourism includes a wide variety of activities that involve the links between agriculture and the food produced at the local or regional level. It may involve staying on farm or touring food trails and events, participation in agricultural endeavours or buying produce direct from a farm or market. Agri-food tourism also encompasses local food, farmer and artisan market schemes that support and are paired with local and seasonal food producers and artisan crafts.
Support for agri-food tourism projects (that may also include rural food markets) is provided under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund. Applications should be made on the attached document. The deadline for submission of applications is 12.00 noon on 23rd February 2024. Applications will be assessed through a competitive process for funding of proposed projects.
Total funding of almost €300,000 is available for projects supporting agri-food tourism initiatives (which may also include rural food markets). The maximum amount payable to any project is €25,000.
• Applications should be made via the Call for Proposals application form which is available on our website here .
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has provided support under the Rural Innovation Development Fund for organisations and economic operators involved in Food Waste Reduction to promote reducing food waste generated by primary producers and food businesses in rural areas. A call for proposal is being issued with the objective of providing funding to activities or items that relate to the promotion and/or development of innovative food waste reduction projects in 2024. The Call for Proposals relates to the provision of services for the support of food waste reduction projects which are designed to reduce food waste generated by primary producers and food businesses in rural areas. The deadline for submission of applications is 12:00 (noon) on 22nd March 2024. Proposals will be assessed through a competitive process for funding of proposed projects.
Total funding available is as follows:
• €165,000 for proposals relating to the promotion and/or development of innovative food waste reduction projects which are designed to reduce food waste generated in rural areas. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis.
Applications should be made via the Call for Proposals application form which is available on our website here:
The Annual Review and Outlook provides up-to-date information and statistical analysis from a variety of sources, to provide a detailed overview of Ireland’s agri-food sector and an outlook for the future.
A strong evidence base is essential for policy formation and implementation. The information and statistics included in the Annual Review and Outlook is intended to assist in policy analysis and debate in the sector. The agri-food sector is Ireland’s most important indigenous industry, playing a vital role in Ireland’s economy. Irish food is produced by thousands of farmers, fishers and agri-food companies around the country.
137,000 farms produce over €8 billion in output; and we have over 770,000 hectares of forest and over 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites. The agri-food supply chain stretches from rural and coastal areas all across Ireland to the UK, Europe and further to markets in the Americas, Asia and Africa. In 2019 Ireland’s food and Agri- foods products were exported to over 180 markets worldwide and valued at €14.5 billion, a 63% increase from €8.9 billion in 2010. The sector is thriving and continues to evolve and meet the needs of its customers, both domestically and internationally.
This year’s publication includes chapters on the agri-food sector & the economy, farm incomes & structures, agricultural commodities & inputs, trade, the environment, forestry, marine and EU & international policy.
Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2020
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Stakeholder Committee
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed T.D. established the Stakeholder Committee to develop Irelands Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 on the 28 November 2019. The composition of the Committee is set out below:
| Tom Arnold | Chairperson | |
| Sharon Buckley | Group Commercial Director, Musgraves | |
| Laura Burke | Director General, EPA\ | |
| Ailish Byrne | Head of Agri, Ulster Bank | |
| Kieran Calnan | Chair, Bord Iascaigh Mhara | |
| Philip Carroll | Chair, IBEC Meat Industry Ireland | |
| Karen Ciesielski | Coordinator, Environmental Pillar | |
| Frank Convery | Senior Partner, EnvEcon | |
| Tim Cullinan | President, IFA | |
| Thomas Duffy | President, Macra na Feirme | |
| Brendan Dunford | Manager, Burren Programme | |
| Julie Ennis | Country President, Sodexo Ireland | |
| Paul Finnerty | Co-Founder & Chairman, Yield Lab Europe | |
| Thia Hennessy | Dean & Chair Agri-Economics, UCC | |
| Liam Herlihy | Chair, Teagasc | |
| Martin Higgins | Chair, FSAI | |
| Caroline Keeling | CEO, Keelings | |
| Jerry Long | President, ICOS | |
| Oliver Loomes | Chair, IBEC Drinks Ireland and Ireland Director & Chairman, Diageo | |
| Dan MacSweeney | Chair, Bord Bia | |
| Pat McCormack | President, ICMSA | |
| Tom Moran | Former Secretary General, DAFM | |
| Brian Murphy | Chair, IBEC Forest Industries Ireland and CEO, Balcas | |
| Pat Murphy | Chair, IBEC Dairy industry Ireland and CEO, Kerry Ireland | |
| Larry Murrin | IBEC Prepared Consumer Foods Council and CEO, Dawn Farm Foods | |
| Colm O'Donnell | President, INHFA | |
| Sean O'Donoghue | CEO, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation | |
| Dolores O'Riordan | Director, UCD Institute for Food and Health | |
| Terence O'Rourke | Chair, Enterprise Ireland | |
| Edmond Phelan | President, ICSA | |
| Alice Stanton | Professor, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Director for Human Health, Devenish | |
| Siobhán Talbot | CEO, Glanbia |