- 11 September 2015
Renetech is a partner of EU FP7 project REFERTIL, aiming at reducing mineral fertilisers and chemicals use in agriculture by recycling treated organic waste as compost and bio-char products. EU-funded researchers have developed a zero-mission method of recycling organic phosphorous fertiliser from animal bones. They aim to help farmers cut down on chemicals - saving them money and making food production safer and greener.
- 03 September 2015
Market research carried out by Kantar Worldpanel on behalf of Bord Bia shows that, while the majority of fresh produce sales are in the non prepared format, the prepared fruit and vegetable category has been a growing segment of the market in recent years.
Read more: Prepared Fruit & Vegetable Retail Market is Growing
- 02 September 2015
In this week’s Farming Independent you can read about the organic sector in the USA and find out how it continues to grow at a huge rate. Some Irish organic producers are now starting to export into the market as more opportunities arise for them. To read the full article please click here
- 28 August 2015
Soil fertility is at the heart of good farming and is critical to the productivity and profitability of both grassland and tillage cropping. Irish farmers’ ability to produce some of the highest yields of grass in the world is due to our soils and our climate. The same is true for grain production that Irish farmers can exploit the high yield potential of modern varieties developed by plant breeders.
- 19 August 2015
The great taste awards were announced recently and IOFGA would like to congratulate members on their awards.
McCabes Coffee – Organic Blend 1 star
Dunnes Oak Smoked Salmon – Carr & Sons Seafood Ltd 1 star
- 19 August 2015
We have been contacted by a student completing his thesis for the MSc who is doing some interesting work on organic varieties, if you can help him out by completing the survey below please do.
- 18 August 2015
The new Grant Aid Scheme for the development of the organic off-farm processing sector has been opened. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes announced the opening of the new scheme, which is wholly exchequer-funded, runs for the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme and will support investments for off-farm projects.
Read more: €5m Funding for Organic Sector Launched – Grants of Up to €500,000 Available
- 18 August 2015
Climate change is increasing the risk of severe 'food shocks' where crops fail and prices of staples rise rapidly around the world.
Researchers say extreme weather events that impact food production could be happening in seven years out of ten by the end of this century.
Read more: Global Warming Increases 'Food Shocks' Threat - BBC News
- 14 August 2015
The EPA’s BeGreen Programme in conjunction with Green Business is hosting a workshop to inform Irish Business on a number of programmes funded by the National Waste Prevention Programme, which are available to assist business in becoming more resource efficient.
Read more: BeGreen Workshop at Sustainable Processing Ireland
- 13 August 2015
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes TD, recently announced the opening of the new Grant Aid Scheme for the Development of the Organic off-farm Processing Sector with immediate effect.
- 11 August 2015
Salad crops with a farm gate value of €26 million are grown every year in Ireland, in a sector which provides employment for more than 500 people. Crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and lettuce are grown for use mainly in salads, and what could taste better or be fresher than local produce. But changes in the eating habits of consumers and other trends may be set to increase the range of opportunities where the crops are used.
- 11 August 2015
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell has congratulated the Northern Ireland Food and Drink companies recognised in the 2015 UK Great Taste Awards.
Read more: Bell Praises Local Food and Drink Companies Recognised in UK Great Taste Awards
- 07 August 2015
Tom Hayes, TD. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, recently announced the opening of a new TAMS II Scheme: the Organic Capital Investment Scheme. An indicative allocation of €8m is being made available for this Scheme over the full RDP period.
Read more: Minister Hayes Launches €8 million Organic Capital Investment Scheme
- 27 July 2015
Tom Hayes Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officially opened the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations Annual Summer Course in Gormanston College, Co. Meath
Read more: Hive of Activity: Minister Tom Hayes Opens Beekeepers Summer School
- 27 July 2015
The department has announced funding for a new farm partnership scheme. Under the scheme successful applicants will be able to claim 50% of legal,advisory and financial service costs incurred while setting up the partnership.
Read more: Department Announces Details On 50% Grant for Farm Partnerships
- 24 July 2015
Three collaborative farming arrangements have the potential to redress the deficit in Irish farm structures. Partnerships, share farming and contract heifer rearing can make a difference in terms of the age profile, average farm size and level of farmer skills in the Irish dairy industry. These were the main messages to emerge from the Teagasc ICOS Dairy Expansion Seminar held in the Killeshin Hotel on Wednesday 15th July.
Read more: Collaborative Farming Options Have Potential to Improve the Structure
- 23 July 2015
Teagasc welcomed proposals published by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), in Connecting Communities, the National Broadband Plan to extend high speed broadband to most rural areas.
Read more: National Broadband Plan to Drive SMART Agriculture
- 22 July 2015
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. has introduced new measures into law which strengthen the legal protection of Geographical Indications for food products.
Read more: Coveney Strengthens Legal Protection of Geographical Indications for Food Products
- 16 July 2015
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD recently launched the new grant scheme providing financial support for collaborative farming initiatives. The scheme, to be funded under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), will cover some of the costs of farmers who wish to combine their enterprises and form partnerships.
Read more: Coveney Launches €3M Grant Scheme to Support Collaborative Farming
- 10 July 2015
Sustainability is a major theme in this report. As part of the Food Wise 2025 process a draft Environmental Analysis Report (incorporating a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment) was prepared in parallel and this environmental assessment has been taken into account in drafting Food Wise 2025 report.
- 01 July 2015
This is a short programme involving retail mentoring to support organic producers selling into specialist independent or multiple retail channels in Ireland who are looking to grow their business through these channels. Participating companies must have retail-ready products.
- 30 June 2015
This week we are looking at our second Consumer Lifestyle Trend – Keeping it real. Real products, made from real ingredients, by real people are increasingly important anchors for consumers in our ever more digitalised, intangible and shifting world.
- 30 June 2015
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today released further details of the first tranche of applications for GLAS, Ireland’s new agri-environment scheme, co funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Read more: Major Benefits to Environment to Flow From First Tranche of GLAS, Says Coveney
- 29 June 2015
At a recent US industry briefing from foodservice market specialists Technomic, reference was made to the fact that “consumers are changing the face of business” and that the Top 3 out-of-home Consumer Drivers are: Natural/Wholesome Foods (76%), Consumer Interest in Food (74%) and Transparency (72%).
Read more: Drive Towards Supply Chain Transparency and ‘Free From’ Gathers Pace
- 25 June 2015
Details have emerged in the past week indicating the investments which will qualify for grant aid under the Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS).
Read more: Organic Capital Investment Scheme Details Announced
- 25 June 2015
Irish growers produce some of the highest crop yields in the world but given our climate, significant inputs are required. This requires the tailoring of fertiliser inputs to soils and crop needs. In addition each year farmers invest €80 million in crop protection products for weed, pest and disease control on their farms.
- 23 June 2015
- 22 June 2015
Scheme Due To Open Soon (not opened yet)
Organic farmers are set to be able to avail of significant grant aid for key equipment under the TAMS II.
A large array investments are eligible under the Organics Capital Investment Scheme – see list below:
- 15 June 2015
As the annual Bloom Festival draws to a close, horticulture and the business of growing has been gaining some overdue attention in the media. Agriculture has been one of the shining stars of the economic recovery, but horticulture has remained the poor relation.
Read more: Organic Horticulture Sector Needs to Nurture New Talent
- 10 June 2015
A US company has developed a successful line of “mushroom materials” that can be used as a compostable, biodegradable replacement for polystyrene and other packaging derived from hydrocarbons. The company, Ecovative, is seeing rising demand for its products, employs 65 staff and just opened their second production plant in the New York State area.
More Articles...
- "Making The Most Of Our Land" - Launch of LANDMARK
- Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2015 Open! – Deadline 1 June
- New Sensory Food Network Launched to Support Irish Food Companies
- Field Talk – A New Programme for New Organic Farmers in 2015
- Minister Hayes Launches New Organic Farming Scheme
- Minister Coveney Announces the Opening of the Online Application System for the Scottish Derogation and the Fruit & Vegetable Provision
- UK Fresh Produce Market Shows Modest Decline
- Irish Food Industry To Benefit From”Game-Changing” Scholarship Programme
- €5.7M Allocated to Horticulture Sector
- New Organic Farming Scheme to Open Shortly
- Increasing EU Funding For Promotional Activity
- A Game Menu For Garden Show
- Challenging Environment for Traditional Retailers
- IOFGA Launches A New Programme Coming Soon To A Farm Near You!
- Country Focus On Ireland – Organic Standard Magazine
- One in 10 EU Wild Bee Species Faces Extinction
- Technology Continues To Set The Pace in Foodservice
- Foster Announces Establishment of New NI Agri-Food
- O'Neill Supports Year of Food 2016
- O'Neill Announces £30,000 Boost for Social Farming