The Organic Farming Scheme will not be reopening any time soon, despite attracting more new applicants than any scheme before, the Department has told the Irish Farmers Journal.

The scheme is co-funded by the Department and Rural Development Programme.

“The budget allocated to the new scheme in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme has been fully committed and all targets set for the scheme within the RDP have already been achieved,” a spokesperson for the Department said.

The spokesperson added that if more funds become available, the Department would consider the reopening of the scheme.

“We keep a close eye on expenditure under all headings of the RDP and if it appears that additional funds are likely to become available, we will certainly look carefully at the possibility of reopening this scheme in a very targeted fashion.”

Higher demand for organic produce

Representatives from the organic sector were before the Oireachtas agriculture committee on Tuesday and there were calls for the scheme to be reopened, otherwise Ireland may have to import produce to meet demand.

Helen Scully, CEO of the Organic Trust, said there is huge demand for organic produce.

“In 25 years, we have never seen the demand we are seeing now, but that demand will be filled by exports if we don’t fill it.

“We believe we are on the cusp of something great and Ireland could fulfil its environmental obligations through organic farming. The wish is that the Government would recognise that,” she said.

Supply a major issue

Gillian Westbrook, general manager of the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) said continuity of supply was one of the biggest issues facing the sector.

“It’s a sustainability issue and that’s only going to increase. It is a common problem across the EU. The Department won’t like it, but other countries have removed the 60ha cap to allow larger farmers and that’s been successful.”

The European Commission is supporting organic because it’s a rising star, is viable and has huge potential,” she said.

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