Agriculture Minister inviting proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives

The Agriculture Minister has issued a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the 2021 Rural Innovation and Development Fund.
The fund allows rural Ireland to showcase its people, landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink and local cuisine.
Funding under this scheme allows rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans, to develop their products and services, connect with the community and visitors and improve the rural experience.
The total funding available is €275,000 for projects supporting agri-food tourism initiatives (which may also include rural food markets). The maximum amount payable to any project is €25,000.
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.
It 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.
Applications should be made via the Call for Proposals application form which is available at Gov.ie