Minister Heydon announces opening of the Organic Farming Scheme
- Foilsithe: 19 Samhain 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 19 Samhain 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today confirmed the opening of the Organic Farming Scheme.
The Scheme will be open to applications from Wednesday, 19 November 2025. It will remain open until Friday, 12 December 2025. Applicants from the tillage sector will receive priority access.
A guide to the Organic Farming Scheme application process is available on the Department’s website to assist potential applicants at: Organic Farming Scheme.
Minister Heydon said:
“Over the last five years (2021-2025), the number of farmers in the Organic Farming Scheme has increased by 221% to 5,500. I allocated €58.6 million in Budget 2026 to provide for a continuation of financial support to these farmers and encourage the production of organic foods. This will also facilitate this targeted reopening of the scheme to farmers in the tillage sector.
“I had the opportunity to address the Organic Strategy Forum earlier this year and spoke of the growth happening in the organic tillage sector. There is strong demand for organic oats, led by the UK market, with growing interest from international markets, including East Asia. Over the last number of years, the Government has been providing strong support through the Organic Farming Scheme and Organic Processing Investment Grant, as well as strategic promotion from Bord Bia.
“In recent years, my Department highlighted the need for organic feed through a feed survey. Results show consistent growth regarding demand for organic feed of all types to meet requirements for winter feeding.
“We know that the success of organic farming depends on the people on the ground, the custodians of our rural landscape. In cooperation with the organic control bodies, farming families and our wider rural communities, organics is now a viable and rewarding option for young farmers to enter the sector, as well for conventional farmers trying to diversify. Huge opportunities exist for organic farmers to grow arable crops to meet the demand for organic livestock feed and food grade oats.
“My Department is committed to helping farm families and rural communities to realise our shared strategy for a more sustainable, profitable, and resilient organic agri-food sector.”
Notes
A guide to the Organic Farming Scheme application process is available on the Department’s website to assist potential applicants at: Organic Farming Scheme
Our Climate Action Plan has a target of 10% off land area to be farmed organically by 2030.
The aim is to reach this target by supporting farmers to convert to organic farming through the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), enhanced advisory support and increased promotion, as well as developing market demand.
The overall objective of the Organic Farming Scheme is to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.
A total budget of €58.6 million has been allocated to the OFS for Budget 2026.
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 CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
The Organic Farming Scheme is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the EU. For more information, visit http://www.gov.ie/cap.
Organic Strategy ambition to 2030
· Increase in wholesale food value from €200 million today to €750 million by 2030.
· Organic beef numbers will double in 2025 compared to this year, estimated to increase to 12,000 tonnes by 2030 from 4,000 tonnes today.
· Organic sheep numbers will treble in 2026 compared to this year, estimated to increase to 3,000 tonnes to 2030 from approximately 500 tonnes today.
· Milk production could double to 40 million litres by 2030 from approximately 20 million today.
· Tillage area expected to more than double by 2030, oats and combicrops (protein and cereal) offer major opportunities. A Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine organic feed survey estimates a need for 50,000 tonnes of livestock feed (concentrates and straights) this winter. Approximately 30,000 tonnes of this will be imported.
· Poultry production could increase significantly from today with potential for a 50% increase in egg production to 53 million eggs annually.
· Pork has major opportunities to grow, particularly though direct sales, albeit from a low base.
· Horticulture: In line with the national strategy for horticulture considerable potential exits for growth. Imports currently account for approximately 70% of retail sales in Ireland. The aim is to reduce this to less than 50% by 2030.
· Aquaculture: Ireland is by far the leading producer in the EU with a 42% market share followed by Italy (16%) and France (8%). Scope for future growth is recognised by all stakeholders.
Key priorities of the Strategy are:
· Supporting Organic Farming Participation
· Coordinating the Value Chain
· Growing the Domestic Market
· Driving Export Growth
· Expanding Public Procurement
· Boosting Skills and Support