Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations Scheme

The Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) Scheme is co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU under the CAP Strategic Fund 2023 – 2027. It aims to support groups of producers to form recognised Producer Organisations across the following seven sectors – beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables. Applications for recognition will be accepted on a rolling basis from 2025 to 2027 inclusive.

The ESSPO Scheme will support POs over their first three years after recognition. Grant funding, up to a maximum of €10,000 annually, will be available for administrative functions during that period. A separate grant of €3,000 is available to cover the costs of engaging approved facilitators for legal and business advice on PO formation and the submission of an application.

Applicant POs must:

• be set up on the initiative of producers and be led by producers;
• have a minimum of 20 members (beef, milk and sheep sectors) or have a minimum of 5 members (other sectors);
• be registered as a legal entity or a clearly defined part of a legal entity;
• have a combined value of marketed production (VMP) of more than €2.5 in the fruit and vegetable sector;
• have a combined VMP of more than €1.5m in the potato, tillage and amenity plant sectors.
• Comply with the conditions of the scheme.

Approved Facilitators

Please email po@agriculture.gov.ie to request PO Recognition Forms for the following sector: Tillage Sector

For further information please email po@agriculture.gov.ie