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Minister Noonan congratulates Farming for Nature on being awarded a prestigious international prize

Date Released: Thursday, July 9, 2020

Minister Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has welcomed the international recognition achieved by the Irish ‘Farming for Nature’ initiative. Farming for Nature was developed by the Burrenbeo Trust in 2018 and aims to acknowledge and support farmers who farm, or wish to farm, in a way that supports nature and biodiversity.

Bord Bia sponsors an annual “Farming for Nature” award to farmers who have been nominated for having made a significant contribution to the protection or enhancement of nature on their farm and/or in their locality. The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine provide additional support in the coordination and the development of educational resources for those who farm for nature. This additional funding commitment is one of “Our Seeds for Nature”, which was announced at the 2019 National Biodiversity Conference: New Horizons for Nature.

This Irish partnership model has been recognised in the international competition ‘Act for Biodiversity Challenge’. Over 200 projects across the world were assessed and Farming for Nature was awarded second place in this competition, receiving a cash prize of €40,000. Farming for Nature will have access to an Accelerator Programme to share what has been successful in Ireland with other countries.

Minister Noonan congratulated the Farming for Nature initiative and said “I am delighted that Farming for Nature is being recognised and showcased for the excellent work that they are doing in the area of farmland biodiversity. I am particularly encouraged by the partnership model that involves staff of my Department working closely with others to deliver a Seed for Nature.”