The reopening of the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations Scheme (ESSPO) was announced this week by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
The scheme supports recognised producer organisations (POs) during their first three years following recognition.
Grant funding of up to €10,000 per annum is available to cover eligible administrative costs, including hiring personnel and acquiring relevant technology.
In addition, a separate grant of up to €3,000 is provided to refund fees for legal and business advice obtained on matters related to PO formation and application submission.
The Department explains that the ESSPO Scheme is “designed to support the formation and establishment of POs in seven sectors: beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables.
Criteria
Eight recognised POs – primarily in the sheep sector – are currently eligible for support under the scheme”.
They outline that applicant POs must:
Be set up on the initiative of producers and be led by producers.Have a minimum of 20 active members (beef, milk and sheep sectors) or have a minimum of five active members for other sectors.Be registered as a legal entity or a clearly defined part of a legal entity.Have a combined value of marketed production (VMP) of more than €2.5 million in the fruit and vegetable sector.Have a combined VMP of more than €1.5 million in the potato, tillage and amenity plant sectors.Applications and queries on the scheme should be directed to the dedicated email address: PO@agriculture.gov.ie.
The application window is open from this week for a six-week period, until 19 May 2026.
Scheme terms and conditions, approved facilitator lists, and application forms are available on the Department’s website.
I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Heydon emphasised the advantages of farmer collaboration through POs, stating: “Recognised POs provide opportunities for groups of farmers to come together to coordinate activities and improve supply chain management with potential buyers.
“They facilitate farmer collaboration, knowledge exchange, and undertake joint activities such as bulk purchasing of inputs and machinery, and labour sharing.
“I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date by the sheep sector and would like to encourage applications from primary producers in other sectors as well.”
The reopening of the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations Scheme (ESSPO) was announced this week by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
The scheme supports recognised producer organisations (POs) during their first three years following recognition.
Grant funding of up to €10,000 per annum is available to cover eligible administrative costs, including hiring personnel and acquiring relevant technology.
In addition, a separate grant of up to €3,000 is provided to refund fees for legal and business advice obtained on matters related to PO formation and application submission.
The Department explains that the ESSPO Scheme is “designed to support the formation and establishment of POs in seven sectors: beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables.
Criteria
Eight recognised POs – primarily in the sheep sector – are currently eligible for support under the scheme”.
They outline that applicant POs must:
Be set up on the initiative of producers and be led by producers.Have a minimum of 20 active members (beef, milk and sheep sectors) or have a minimum of five active members for other sectors.Be registered as a legal entity or a clearly defined part of a legal entity.Have a combined value of marketed production (VMP) of more than €2.5 million in the fruit and vegetable sector.Have a combined VMP of more than €1.5 million in the potato, tillage and amenity plant sectors.Applications and queries on the scheme should be directed to the dedicated email address: PO@agriculture.gov.ie.
The application window is open from this week for a six-week period, until 19 May 2026.
Scheme terms and conditions, approved facilitator lists, and application forms are available on the Department’s website.
I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Heydon emphasised the advantages of farmer collaboration through POs, stating: “Recognised POs provide opportunities for groups of farmers to come together to coordinate activities and improve supply chain management with potential buyers.
“They facilitate farmer collaboration, knowledge exchange, and undertake joint activities such as bulk purchasing of inputs and machinery, and labour sharing.
“I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date by the sheep sector and would like to encourage applications from primary producers in other sectors as well.”
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