Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme

The Scheme aims to help the development of the organic sector so as to ensure a regular supply of high quality organic produce to the market.

The Scheme is open to organic operators who:

• are licensed organic operators registered with an approved organic certification body
• are currently registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
• own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development
• agree to provide relevant bank/building society/credit union details to ensure that all payments made by the Department are paid by electronic fund transfer
• provide a copy of Business Plan as per Annex A of the terms & conditions where the value of the application is greater than €90,000 excluding VAT.

Financial Assistance Available

Financial assistance will be directed towards projects which:

• improve the organic sector and provide the producers of the basic product with an opportunity of enhancing income
• help to guide production in line with foreseeable market trends or encourage the development of new outlets for agricultural products
• help to improve production, handling and preparation of organic produce
• facilitate the adoption and application of new technologies
• help to ensure the adoption of "best practice" within the organic production/processing sector
• develop facilities for preparation, grading, packing, storage, distribution, or the sale of organic products as part of a wider organic operation

The Grant Aid is payable at 60% of the eligible cost (pre vat).

Projects costing less than €3,000 excluding VAT will not be eligible for grant assistance.

Part payment of Approvals will not be processed unless specifically agreed by DAFM, taking account of particular circumstances.

Grant-aid will only be paid on approved and eligible expenditure.

Where an application for grant-aid is comprised of more than one investment item, approval may be granted for a lesser number of items than that specified in the application form.

Applications for aid should be sent to the Organic Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co Wexford. Alternatively, a signed completed application may be sent by email to organic@agriculture.gov.ie. Applications will not be accepted unless accompanied by all necessary documentation listed.

The scheme will operate in tranches, the dates of which are as follows :

Tranche 1 – Opening 24 May Closing 29 June 2023

Tranche 2 – Opening 30 June Closing 11 August 2023

Tranche 3 - Opening 12 August Closing 22 September 2023

Tranche 4 - Opening 23 September Closing 31 October 2023

Tranche 5 - Opening 1 November closing 30 November 2023

Tranche 6 - Opening 1 December Closing 31 December 2023

Tranche 7 – Opening 1 January Closing 31 January 2024

Tranche 8 - Opening 14 May Closing 14 June 2024

Tranche 9 – Opening 15 October Closing 29 November 2024

Tranche 10 – Opening 9 January Closing 8 February 2025

Tranche periods, which will be announced by the Minister, are used to allocate funding. Applications are assessed and ranked in each tranche to keep expenditure within budget.

Unsuccessful applications in any tranche period are automatically carried over to the next tranche period, until such time as the Scheme closes for applications.

A closing date for any tranche means that applications received after that date will not be considered for assessment in that tranche period. A tranche closing date is not to be confused with the closing date for the Scheme.

Aid will not be given for works commenced or equipment/items purchased/delivered before written approval has been conveyed to an applicant.

You must read the Terms and Conditions for full information regarding all aspects of the scheme