Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has issued a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the 2023 Rural Innovation and Development Fund.
Minister McConalogue said, “there are many natural symmetries between tourism and the agri-food sector – they complement each other well. 2022 proved a difficult year for the Agri Food industry. Building a business post-COVID-19 has been challenging. We are 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.”
“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.”
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.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on 23 February 2023.
