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Agri Food Co Operation Scheme

AGRI FOOD WEB BANNER page 2

SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO EACH GROUP

Facilitation

Expert help with business planning, funding, business development, and market research. Up to a maximum of 50 days, within the following limits: First stage facilitation – 5 days maximum. Post application support – 5 days per month or 25 days per year for a maximum period of two years. The level of facilitation will be determined as part of the action plan.

Specialist Mentoring

More specific support for the group: eg quality assurances, e-commerce and
marketing.
80% of eligible costs – 75 hours maximum over a 2 year period, or a maximum
of £5,000

Training

To develop the skills of group members
100% of costs to a maximum of £5,000 per group

Study Tours

To develop the skills of group members
100% of eligible costs to a maximum of £3,000 per group.

Co-operation Support

Development of group structures and co-operation activities
50% grant up to £2,500 per group. Examples of co-operation support are costs
associated with the development of group structures and co-operation activities
e.g. legal or financial advice.

Other Business Tools

Management information systems, surveys, websites, logos, and promotional
material.
80% of costs (excluding travel & subsistence) to a maximum of £15,000 per group
– business tools may include Management Information systems, market
intelligence, surveys, websites, logo design, promotional material to increase the
profile of the group and increase membership, value chain analysis by all or
some of the group members.

ELIGIBILITY

As the scheme is focused on benefiting Northern Irish agri-food production the lead applicant must be from the NI agricultural or horticultural production sector

  • the project must deal with products whose main components must already be, or could be, produced in Northern Ireland
  • a group must have a minimum of two entities
  • support can be allocated to new or existing groups. However, for support to be granted to an existing group, it must be to develop a business plan for a new joint project
  • the scheme will only support plans for projects which involve innovative/unique characteristics, with low displacement implications and the potential to add net benefits to the Northern Ireland economy

 

Check out below to see active groups availing of support:

– LOUGH NEAGH ARTISANS GROUP 

– EAST SPERRINS POTATO GROUP 

– NI BLONDE BEEF GROUP 

VIDEO CASE STUDY – EAST SPERRINS POTATO GROUP 

HOW TO APPLY

The first stage requires you to download and submit a short expression of interest form.  You can download this form at the bottom of this page. We advise you to also download the notes for guidance document as this will provide further information regarding the scheme.

Please note the scheme will not accept applications from fisheries or aquaculture businesses, forestry businesses, or from businesses where the output is for the energy market.

SELECTION PANEL DATES

  • 26th January 2022
  • 23rd February 2022
  • 30th March 2022

 

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM AFCS 2018

NOTES FOR GUIDANCE 

MORE INFO

Contact Countryside Services for more information

Email agrifood@countrysideservices.com or call 028 8778 8207