Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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11. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s plans to develop markets for Irish organic produce to match the increase in the number of farmers entering the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38248/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to achieving our target of 7.5% of utilisable land under oganic production by 2027 and the implementing of the National Organic Strategy 2025 which outlines the actions and supports necessary to remove the barriers to the growth of the organic sector.

The primary objective of the strategy is to develop a viable Organic Food Sector in Ireland producing a wide range of organic products to meet the ever increasing domestic and export markets opportunities.

In 2022, a new Organic Strategy Forum was established to continue to implement the National Organic Strategy and to further develop the organic sector in Ireland. The Forum comprises a range of stakeholders including from the farming and food processing sectors, organic certification bodies and relevant State Agencies including Bord Bia. This group will be the forum for discussion on all relevant issues to the Irish organic sector including addressing market demand.

Minister of State Hackee will be leading a high-level trade mission to Germany this month to coincide with Biofach, the largest organic trade fair in Europe to help promote organic Irish food and drink in the German market.

Furthermore, to assist in meeting market demand for organic produce, my Department currently offers funding to processors who wish to invest in developing facilities for the processing, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products under The Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme. It is a demand led scheme and all eligible applications received are assessed based on the terms and conditions of the scheme. A budget of €1.2 million has been allocated to this Scheme for 2022 with a maximum payment of €700,000 available on eligible expenditure.

It is through initiatives like these that we will continue to develop the sector at production and processing level and help meet increasing domestic and export market opportunities for organic produce.

Oganics is a really exciting sector and is one I will continue to support.