DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced the launch of the Farming for Sustainability – Innovation Scheme, a major initiative expected to benefit farms and agri-businesses across Tyrone and the wider Fermanagh & Omagh district.
Part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme, the scheme aims to help local farmers identify and adopt innovative solutions that improve environmental performance, increase productivity and strengthen the long-term resilience of the agriculture sector — an industry at the heart of rural Tyrone.
The programme expands access to innovation support through three elements: Innovation Visits, Innovation Farms and Innovation Partnerships. Together, these provide practical pathways for farmers to explore new technologies, overcome barriers to innovation and apply cutting-edge ideas to everyday farm operations.
Minister Muir described the scheme as a way to “equip and support farmers to explore new ideas and innovations that will help them address the challenges they face within their businesses,” emphasising the need for a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector across Northern Ireland.
The first Innovation Visit—open to farmers from Tyrone and beyond—will take place on 4–5 March 2026, taking participants to Harper Adams University in Shropshire and Grosvenor Farms in Cheshire. The visit will focus on forward-thinking research in nutrient management for high-output dairy systems and how these innovations are already being applied on farms.
Encouraging farmers to take part, Minister Muir added: “This is a unique opportunity to learn about leading research and see practical examples of innovation in action.”
To make an application visit the CAFRE website: Innovation Visits – CAFRE(external link opens in a new window / tab)
The call for applications for the first Innovation Visit will close on Tuesday 6 January 2026 at 4:00pm.
