22nd October 2026
Today Talamh Beo is releasing their ‘Basic Income for Local Food Farmers’ policy proposal which aims at providing income support to farmers committed to feeding their local areas. This policy proposal stems from Talamh Beo’s wider Local Food Policy Framework, and follows from 18 months of in-depth primary research into the sector.*
A Basic Income for Local Food Farmers is a straightforward, fair and implementable income support mechanism with two main elements: the institutional recognition of ‘Local Food Farms’, and targeted income support of a Basic Income for Local Food Farmers of €350 per week. As outlined, with an indicative reference cohort of 600 recipients, the net cost per annum would be €8.3 million, approximately 0.4% of DAFM’s current €1.98 billion expenditure allocation.
Local Food Farmers play an important role in Ireland’s food system, strengthening our Food Sovereignty by supplying fresh food to domestic markets while contributing to a broad range of environmental, social and economic outcomes. However, this critical sector has remained largely invisible to the government and inadequately supported – with Ireland currently importing fruit and vegetables which could be produced here. This new policy proposal aims to stimulate the growth of the Local Food Farm sector in Irish Agriculture.
Eligibility of Local Food Farmers would be based on four core characteristics: primary food production, Short Food Supply Chain orientation, commercial activity and agroecological farming practices. The intention is to provide a predictable income for Local Food Farmers and increase the supply of local food available in Ireland.
Talamh Beo will be officially launching the proposal and campaign for a Basic Income for Local Food Farmers on October 29th in Trinity College Dublin, during the Feeding Ourselves Symposium. The programme, details and registration for this event can be found here.
More information on how to get behind this movement and support the Basic Income for Local Food Farmers campaign, including signing the petition, can be found on Talamh Beo’s website.
Media Contact: info@talamhbeo.ie
*The Basic Income for Local Food Farmers policy proposal has been developed from primary research. Through 2025 and 2026, Talamh Beo conducted in-depth research of Ireland’s Local Food Farms, building a database of over 350 Local Food Farms across Ireland and interviewing and surveying over 150 Local Food Farmers. Financial security emerged as the strongest identified need. When asked what would increase confidence in the future of their farm or business, 69% identified financial support, ahead of labour support (52%), stronger community networks (50.4%), greater consumer awareness (48%) and improved market access (40%).
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