An estimated €600,000 is set to be allocated toward the development of a significant new or existing ‘social farming model’ project.
The Department of Agriculture is inviting applications from interested groups “who have the capability and vision, to develop a substantial new or existing social farming model project”, reports Breaking News.
Funding will be provided through the Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund, with up to €150,000 available for each individual model project.
The contract will run for five years, including provisions for extensions and renewals, reports Breaking News.
The Department defines social farming as “the practice of offering, on a voluntary basis, farming and horticultural participation in a farming environment as a choice to people who avail of a range of therapeutic day support services”.
Social farming is already widely used across Europe and is considered to be particularly advanced in countries such as the Netherlands, Norway, and Italy, reports Breaking News.
From a Government perspective, such initiatives create a collaborative structure that allows multiple departments and agencies to work together.
The deadline for submitting tenders has been set for April 24th, reports Breaking News.
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