Call for Proposals: Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives (Ireland)

Agri-food tourism broadly is the practice of offering an activity or activities as part of a visit to 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. Funding is available under the Rural Innovation Development Fund (RIDF) for agri-food tourism measures in rural areas.

Objectives

• The objective of this call for proposals is to provide, on a competitive basis, funding to activities or items that relate to the promotion and/or development of innovative agri-food tourism projects which can demonstrate that they will be self-sustainable in the longer term. These initiatives should be underpinned with the objective of energising the rural economy by encouraging innovative job creation and sustainable enterprise development and should align with goals and actions of the Food Vision 2030 Strategy which refers to opportunities for primary producer diversification into rural and agri tourism and eco-tourism (Goal 3, Mission 2), as well as developing linkages between local food and tourism offerings (action 14, Goal 4, Mission 3). The initiatives should also take account of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specific targets to double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers by 2030 (2.3); to devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products (8.9); and to provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets (14.b).
• Delivery of initiatives should seek, where possible, to limit environmental impacts or operate in a way that is environmentally sustainable in order to align with environmental goals of Food Vision 2030 and of the SDGs.
• It is envisaged that one or more of the following elements will be included in the proposal:
  • Linkage of agri-food/drink or local food/artisan markets experiences with existing tourism initiatives.
  • Food/drink festivals/markets or trails or series,
  • Events which promote local food/artisan market experiences.
  • Showcase events which promote local produce, crafts, businesses, authentic culinary or traditional skills.
  • Inter-county collaborations which integrate and promote inter-county or regional agri-food experiences.
  • Allow eligible existing local rural food/artisan markets to continue, to maximise their potential and/or expand.
  • Assist rural communities who have already taken verifiable steps to establish a local food/artisan market to progress to opening stage.
  • Funding for supports (such as websites, service provider networks, guidance/handbooks etc) or the development of agri-food trails/experiences that can be used beyond 2024.

Funding Information

• Funding will be provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to part fund initiatives designed to promote agri-food tourism. The maximum amount that will be paid to any project is €25,000 (incl VAT).
• Funding for capital works will not be considered.
• Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis and applicants should note that there is no guarantee of funding.
• The financial contribution will not exceed 70% of the total eligible costs of the proposal and the costs must be necessary to carry out the actions proposed in the work plan.
• Funding is not payable in respect of any works undertaken prior to the official letter of offer for approved projects.
• Applicants must confirm that they are not receiving any other state funds in respect of any activity proposed in their application.
• Applicants should also note that if they are successful there is no guarantee that the full amount of funding requested will be provided and initiatives may be part funded depending on the number of applications received.
• This tranche of funding will be provided for 2024 only. Any activities accepted for funding must be structured in sufficient time to allow payments to be made by end 2024. Delays by applicants in completing agreed projects or in submitting invoices beyond this time period will result in non-payment of funds. Receipts for expenditure for the full cost of the project must be submitted prior to any payments being made.

Ineligible Activities and Funding

• Funding for capital expenditure will not be considered.
• Salary costs, fees, expenses, travel and subsistence or other personal remuneration to clients or proposers will not be eligible for funding under this scheme.
• Please note that costs incurred as a result of the application process will also not be eligible for funding under this scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

• This Call for Proposals is open to agri-food tourism initiatives which:
  • Are situated outside the administrative boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
  • Are up and running and currently operating or expect to be operational in 2024.
  • Are community-based and use (not necessarily exclusively) locally sourced inputs, such as food produce, local crafts, etc. Those initiatives planning to begin must demonstrate that they can comply with this requirement.
  • Can demonstrate that their proposal is, or can be, sufficiently advanced to allow final payment to be correctly made by the Department by end 2024 at the latest.
  • Can demonstrate the funding is for current expenditure (i.e. is not for capital expenditure).
  • Can demonstrate the organisations economic and financial standing to prove that the organisation is financially sound. Applicants must declare in the submission that they can provide evidence supporting their financial standing (i.e. a copy of the organisations audited accounts for the last 3-years).

For more information, visit Gov.ie.