AgriAware, the Irish agri-food educational body, recorded losses in excess of €318,000 for the year ending 31 August 2019, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

AgriAware’s audited accounts, presented to the AGM on 10 September, show a major drop in funding in 2019 compared to the previous year.

However, the AGM, which was held remotely, was told that the loss was attributable to a number of issues.

Some €220,000 in income from the EU’s CAP programme for the 2019 financial year was accounted for in the 2018 audited accounts. The 2018 accounts showed a profit of €55,375.

AgriAware chair Alan Jagoe told the Irish Farmers Journal that for the past several years, AgriAware has successfully applied for EU funding to promote the benefits of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the general public.

These campaigns, which included airport and cinema advertising and the popular open farm days, were 60% co-funded under this scheme.

The board decided not to draw down the funding, as the organisation has struggled to raise the 40% from industry for these campaigns

Jagoe said: “In 2020, although successful again, the board decided not to draw down the funding, as the organisation has struggled to raise the 40% from industry for these campaigns. As a result, AgriAware’s own funds were used to make up the shortfall.”

“We also wrote down €64,000 in bad debts in the 2019 accounts. This was due to lapsed patrons, which should have been written off in previous years and were not in relation to any services provided by AgriAware.”

It is understood that the AGM was told that AgriAware needs a stronger policy around debtor management and that a further clean-up of bad debt will be required in the 2020 accounts.

The 2020 accounts are due to be completed for the AGM in February 2021.

Agri Aware is a charitable trust supported by companies from across the agricultural industry. A strategic review of activities took place in 2019. It is understood that a number of governance processes and protocols have been put in place.