Minister McConalogue issues a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., has issued a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the 2022 Rural Innovation and Development Fund.
Minister McConalogue said:
“The funding provided under this initiative aligns with many of the goals in my Department’s ambitious strategy for the agri-food sector “Food Vision 2030”. One of the key actions in this strategy is to continue to develop linkages between local food and tourism offerings, including support for business development and marketing initiatives to support and promote food and drink visitor attractions including the distillery, brewery and tourism sector. Ireland’s agri-food sector is engrained in the fabric of Irish society and is one of the main drivers of our economy, especially in rural and coastal areas. My Department is delighted to be in a position to continue to provide support towards the development of agri-food tourism initiatives which will help rural businesses to develop their products and services, connect with the community and visitors and improve the rural experience”.
Total funding of almost €300,000 is available for projects supporting agri-food tourism initiatives (which may also include rural food markets). The maximum amount payable to any project is €25,000.
Applications should be made via the Call for Proposals application form which is available on our website here: https://www.gov.ie/en/form/4411a-call-for-proposals-agri-food-tourism/
Closing date for receipt of applications is 12.00 noon on 4th March
• Agri-food tourism broadly is the practice of offering an activity or activities in rural areas to visit areas of well-known agricultural produce and to sample and taste the local or regional cuisine or specialties. Agri-food tourism includes a wide variety of activities that involve the links between agriculture and the food produced at the local or regional level. It may involve staying on farm or touring food trails and events, participation in agricultural endeavours or buying produce direct from a farm or market. Agri-food tourism also encompasses local food, farmer and artisan market schemes that support and are paired with local and seasonal food producers and artisan crafts.
• Support for agri-food tourism projects (that may also include rural food markets) is provided under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund. Applications should be made on the attached document. The deadline for submission of applications is 12.00 noon on 4th March 2022. Applications will be assessed through a competitive process for funding of proposed projects.