Meat factories and dairy processors have been invited to submit applications for funding under the first tranche of the Government’s €100m Brexit scheme for the agri-food sector.

The scheme will be used to assist large, medium or small enterprises processing and marketing meat and dairy products in diversifying away from the UK market.

The funds will finance the production of higher value-added products targeted at new markets rather than increased volumes of raw materials. Processors will need to show the investment underpins sustainable food production at farm and processor level.

Director of Dairy Industry Ireland Conor Mulvihill said the fund would help mitigate the worst effects of Brexit while creating opportunities to drive value add for farmers.

Cormac Healy, director of Meat Industry Ireland, said processors would work to retain the place of Irish meat in the UK, while diversifying into European and international markets.