€445,000 Funding Announced for Agri-Food Tourism Projects in Rural Areas
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed announced on Thursday, Novmber 17, the projects that will receive €445,000 in funding this year, under the Commission for the Development of Rural Areas Rural Innovation and Development Fund. The funding is awarded to initiatives to promote and develop agri-food tourism projects in rural areas.
Agri-food tourism involves touring rural areas to visit areas of well-known agricultural produce to sample and taste the local produce or cuisine. Agri-tourism includes a wide variety of activities that may also involve staying on farm or buying produce direct from a farm or market.
Creed said “Agri-food tourism provides an important focus for rural areas to showcase their landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink, and local cuisine. It provides opportunities for farmers, producers and artisans to develop their market produce and brands, connect with the community and visitors to an area, and improve skills and best practice all within the wider backdrop of tourism.”
€67,200 was awarded to the Longford County Council initiative Taste of the Lakelands to promote Loch Ree as a food destination. €52,497 was awarded to the Sligo County Council Sligo Food Trail initiative, and €50,400 was awarded to Kilkenny County Council’s Taste Kilkenny campaign.
