Ireland has set a target of increasing the proportion of agricultural land managed under organic production to 10% by 2030, as part of a new policy covering rural development, farming, fishing and forestry.
The commitment is included in Our Rural Future, which the Government says is intended to create opportunities for farmers to diversify production and income while delivering gains for biodiversity, soil health and water quality. The policy brings together commitments from across Government under a series of rural development pillars.
Organic production within wider rural policy
Agricultural measures are included under pillars covering thriving rural places, a strong and diverse rural economy, resilient rural communities and sustaining the rural environment. The approach places farming alongside the infrastructure, services and economic activity needed to support rural towns and villages.
The policy describes the agriculture, food, fishing and forestry sectors as important foundations of rural employment and economic activity. In 2025, the sector employed more than 171,000 people as a primary job, representing 6.1% of the total workforce, according to the figures accompanying the policy.
- More than 133,000 farms are included in the rural economy covered by the policy.
- The wider sector also includes approximately 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites.
- There are more than 2,400 food and beverage production enterprises.
- Agri-food exports reached €20.8bn in 2025.
“Rural Ireland plays a vital role in our national economy, with a strong and diverse enterprise base and enormous potential for further growth. From agri-food and tourism to emerging industries and innovative businesses, rural areas continue to contribute to Ireland’s economic success.”
That assessment was given by Peter Burke, minister for enterprise, tourism and employment, at the launch of the policy. He said the programme would build on rural enterprise and employment, encourage innovation and support the continuing economic role of rural areas.
Support for rural communities
The policy has been published against a background of economic shocks and external uncertainty, but records that the agri-food sector remained a significant contributor to Ireland’s economy during 2025. Its measures are intended not only to address farming and environmental priorities, but also to strengthen local economies and communities.
Under the rural economy commitments, the policy includes a pledge to seek additional funding for the LEADER programme. The programme is listed alongside measures intended to support rural regeneration and local development, although the extracted announcement does not set out a funding figure or a new payment rate.
The organic land objective is therefore presented as one part of a broader rural strategy rather than as a standalone farm payment or regulatory decision. The announcement sets the 2030 ambition but does not specify in the published details the farm-level eligibility rules, payment rates or individual deadlines that would apply to producers seeking to convert or maintain organic enterprises.
For livestock farms, the policy’s environmental emphasis places organic production within wider discussions about soil health, water quality, biodiversity and the resilience of rural businesses. The Government’s stated aim is to combine those environmental outcomes with opportunities to diversify farm income and reinforce the economic role of rural communities.
