The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has announced the reopening of the Organic Farming Scheme, which will accept applications from 19 November to 12 December 2025. Farmers in the tillage sector will receive priority access, and a detailed application guide is available on the department’s website. The minister highlighted the rapid expansion of the scheme, noting a 221% increase in participating farmers since 2021, reaching 5,500 by 2025. He also confirmed an allocation of €58.6 million in Budget 2026 to continue supporting organic farming and encourage further growth, especially in the tillage sector.
Heydon emphasized rising demand for organic oats, driven largely by the UK and emerging international markets in East Asia, and acknowledged strong government support through existing financial incentives and promotional efforts. He also pointed to consistent growth in the need for organic livestock feed, based on departmental surveys, which show increasing demand for winter feeding supplies. The minister stressed that the success of organic farming relies heavily on farming families and rural communities, describing the sector as increasingly viable for both new entrants and farmers seeking diversification.
Ireland’s broader strategy aims to farm 10% of its land organically by 2030, supported through advisory services, promotional activities, and market development. The Organic Farming Scheme’s overall objective is to improve environmental and animal welfare outcomes while encouraging producers to meet growing market demand for organic food. The scheme is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Union under the Common Agricultural Policy.
Looking toward 2030, Ireland’s organic strategy outlines substantial growth targets across agriculture. The plan aims to increase the value of organic food, expand production of beef, sheep, milk, and tillage crops, and reduce reliance on imported organic feed. Significant opportunities have been identified in poultry, pork, and horticulture, with a goal of reducing the current 70% reliance on imported horticultural products to under 50%. Aquaculture also presents strong growth potential, with Ireland already holding a leading European market share. The strategy prioritizes boosting participation in organic farming, strengthening value chains, expanding domestic and export markets, enhancing public procurement of organic food, and improving skills and support within the sector.
