Ministers Heydon and O’Sullivan announce a new call for project proposals on the theme of nature on arable farmland
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 24 Meitheamh 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, today announced a new €7 million open call for project proposals under the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) measure of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. The theme for this call is to support nature in an arable environment along the coast from south Cork to Wexford.
Minister Heydon said:
"I am delighted to announce this call for European Innovation Partnership projects, with an overarching theme of supporting nature in an arable environment along the south coast of Ireland. This provides a great opportunity to showcase how farmers and communities in relatively intensive agricultural landscapes can get behind special farmland wildlife like the Hen Harrier, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Chough, while realising benefits for wider nature, including soil invertebrates and pollinators. Through this EIP, I would like to see farmers, ecologists, local groups, businesses and Government aligning to realise a vision for nature in some of the most agriculturally productive areas of Ireland.
“EIP projects have an established track record in Ireland, and I have no doubt that this latest call will provide an opportunity for a new operational group to bring an innovative and forward-thinking approach to this important issue.”
Minister O’Sullivan added:
“Positive outcomes arise when nature and agriculture work closely together. Nature underpins the viability of agriculture in Ireland, and caring for our natural environment is in everyone’s interest. One of the great strengths of the EIPs has been their capacity to learn by trying new approaches. Through this EIP, we hope to see large-scale trialling and demonstration of how multiple benefits for biodiversity, soil and water can be achieved in a relatively intensively farmed landscape.
“I know the coast of Cork, through Waterford and into Wexford very well. It is to be treasured when it comes to nature. This region is a vital area for iconic and high-conservation species such as Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Chough, Skylark, and Yellowhammer, all of which have suffered declines in population. By focusing on flagship and indicator species like these, I look forward to seeing this EIP deliver co-benefits across a range of nature and environmental interests, while also supporting farmers, landowners, and local communities in the process."
In conclusion, Minister Heydon said:
"We know that time is running out for some of our most iconic birds, and we need to leverage all the knowledge and skills available to address the decline. Using the EIP model, operational groups have shown how the bottom-up approach to innovation on Irish farms can and does work and, furthermore, gives direction for future policy development.”
Notes
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 tailored CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027.
The EIP initiative is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Housing through the NPWS will jointly fund payments to farmers and to cover the administrative costs of the project.
The EIP initiative involves a range of stakeholders (farmers, advisors, researchers, NGOs) coming together in what are termed ‘Operational Groups’ to trial innovative solutions that the Groups themselves have developed.
There are currently two flagship EIP projects under the CSP, namely, the Farming for Water EIP and the Breeding Waders EIP.
To date, there have been six other open EIP calls under the CSP, on the following themes:
- Animal Health and Welfare, including the rearing of pigs with intact tails
- Gender Balance in Farming in Ireland
- Promoting Generational Renewal on Irish Farms
- Fostering the Use of Digital Technologies on Irish Farms
- Generational Renewal on Irish Farms
- Environmental Sustainability on Irish Farms
Call 7 will focus on enhancing habitats for biodiversity in an arable environment along the coast from South Cork to Wexford. An overall budget of €7 million is being allocated to this EIP for one project, co-financed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is envisaged that one project will be selected to move to full implementation. The selected project will be funded for a period of four years (Sept 2025 – Dec 2029).
The guidelines for Call 7 - Enhancing Habitats for Biodiversity in an Arable Environment Along the Coast from South Cork to Wexford, can be accessed on the department’s website, at gov.ie - European Innovation Partnership Scheme.
The closing date for the submission of EIP project proposals under this Call is 5pm on Friday 8 August 2025.