Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is inviting interested groups to apply for funding under the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) initiative by the end of January next year. This is the first of two separate calls; the second will be made in the middle of 2017.

“This is a completely new way of responding to local challenges and we look forward to working with, and supporting, groups who are dealing with practical problems in their localities in a new and innovative way,” Creed said. “This is also an opportunity for farmers, researchers, advisers and scientists to look at new and traditional practices, develop ideas and research, and promote forms of co-operation in their own areas.”

The funding, announced at the inaugural National Rural Network conference, comes as a new measure under the Rural Development Programme (RDP).

Funding will be awarded to applicants on a competitive basis. There are two streams within the call announced on Friday. Stream one will focus on themes such as farm viability, economic performance, sustainable forest management, and innovative technologies. The second stream will be focused on challenges related to environmental, biodiversity and climate change issues.

Proposals for projects targeting the restoration of upland peats are specifically invited, but it is hoped that a very wide range of ideas and proposals will emerge in response to this call, with innovation the common denominator across them all.

Competitive process

All proposals will be evaluated by a committee for relevance to the EIP programme and compatibility with rural development priorities. A shortlist of applicants will be chosen to go forward to the second round and these will be funded to prepare detailed project plans. These plans will then be assessed and a final shortlist drawn up for implementation on the ground, with up to 100% funding provided under the new initiative.

Expressions of Interest are invited and should be submitted by 5pm on 27 January 2017 to locallyled@agriculture.gov.ie.

The application form and guidelines on this Open Call can be downloaded from the Department website at:

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/europeaninnovationpartnershipincludinglocallyledschemes/locallyledschemes/opencallforproposalsundertheeipsinitiative/

or by contacting the Locally Led Section at Locallyled@agriculture.gov.ie, low call number 076 1064454.

Last month the Department opened the tender for applications to the €4.9m in funding set aside for locally led environmental projects such as the hen harrier and pearl mussel.