Minister Heydon announces a Call for Tender for Social farming model projects under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today announced a competitive public procurement procedure under the 2026 Rural Innovation and Development Fund seeking service providers with the vision and capability to develop a substantial social farming model project.

Minister Heydon stated: “The aim of the model social farming projects is to provide the best social farming experience for the participants. The projects can range from working family farms to local community initiatives. The projects’ goals are to foster inclusion, build self-esteem and improve health and wellbeing for the participants”.

Minister Heydon said: “Funding of €377,000 is available this year subject to a maximum of €150,000 for any one project. There will be an option to extend contracts awarded for a further four years.”

“Social farming is a rewarding activity that has delivered many benefits including supporting farm diversification and helping farmers connect with the wider community,” the Minister concluded.

The tender has been posted on the eTenders website (CFT: 7731117 - Social Farming Model project) with a closing date of 24 April 2026 at 12 noon.

ENDS

Note for Editors:

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.

There are currently four model projects being funded by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine:

1. Leitrim Integrated Development Company for a ‘Social Farming Best Practice Model’,
2. South Kerry Development Partnership for the ‘Kerry Social Farming Project’,
3. Down Syndrome Ireland Cork Branch for the ‘Fields of Dreams’ project, and
4. IRD Duhallow ‘Social Farming project’.