More than €200,000 was invested in biodiversity projects on 80 farms across 21 counties in 2025 through the ReFarm organisation, supporting farmers in implementing nature-friendly practices on their land. The initiative combines private sector investment with public funding to create scalable and sustainable approaches to improving biodiversity in agriculture.
ReFarm was co-founded by investment professional Anke Heydenreich and conservationist Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust. The programme integrates financial investment in nature with independent, evidence-based research led by Trinity College Dublin professors Jane Stout and Martha O’Hagan, ensuring that environmental outcomes are measurable and scientifically supported.
Drawing inspiration from successful Irish initiatives such as the Burren Programme, the Hare’s Corner Project and the Farming for Nature network, ReFarm focuses on practical conservation measures that can be implemented by farmers while maintaining productive agricultural systems.
According to the organisation’s first full-year impact report released on March 2, ReFarm has already secured €3 million in funding commitments through 2030 to support direct investments, research and programme delivery. In 2025 alone, €205,000 in direct funding supported 80 farmers in delivering 139 habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement projects.
These initiatives included the creation of new wildlife pond habitats, the planting of hedgerows, the development of mini-woodland areas and the support of species-rich grasslands through results-based payments. Farmers also implemented additional nature-friendly actions tailored to their local environments.
In 2025, nearly €84,000 of the programme’s funding was paid directly to farmers to carry out biodiversity measures on their farms. ReFarm aims to expand this model nationwide in order to support Ireland’s commitments to biodiversity conservation and climate action under national and European Union restoration targets.
The organisation states that its research-backed, results-based approach can generate measurable biodiversity and climate benefits while also strengthening farm incomes. Co-founder Brendan Dunford emphasized that farmers manage more than 70% of Ireland’s land and play a critical role in nature restoration efforts, highlighting the importance of investing in farmers as key partners in delivering environmental outcomes.
