Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
32. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to meet organic conversion targets; and the estimated number of farmers and new hectares that he expects to enter organics in 2022. [60428/21]
View answerThe current Programme for Government contains a commitment to align Ireland’s organic land area with that of the current EU average of approximately 7.5% over the lifetime of this Government. I have secured funding for the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) to meet this commitment by increasing the budget to €21 million in 2022, up from €16 million last year with another €2 million for further organic sector development measures. This builds on the reopening of the scheme in 2021 and means we are continuously taking in new entrants to organic farming.
This additional funding for the Organic Farming Scheme aims to provide for an extra fifty thousand hectares converting to organic production in 2022. The number of farmers expected to enter the OFS in 2022 depends on the number of hectares each brings into the Scheme. An additional fifty thousand hectares, as provided for in the Budget, would represent an increase in excess of 50% in the area currently farmed organically and takes us further along the route to the goal of 7.5% land cover.
At the same time, I will also be continuing to progress the implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2019-2025 which sets out ambitious growth targets for the sector by aligning it closely with market opportunities.
In addition to the Organic Farming Scheme, my Department will provide funding for other supports for organic farmers, such as the Organic Capital Investment Scheme and the Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme. Initiatives to assist in the development of the sector such as the Organic Demonstration Farm Programme and other training and education projects will also be funded.
I am committed to the growth of organic farming in Ireland and I believe that the supports which I have provided will assist in achieving our targets.
