A new pilot project, launched by Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, on Tuesday, 22 October at Trinity College Dublin, will see businesses fund the creation and management of wildlife ponds, hedgerows, woodlands, and species-rich grasslands across Irish farms.

The project, named ReFarm, is a collaborative effort between Trinity College Dublin, Burrenbeo Trust, and both local and international businesses. It aims to make sustainable "farming for nature" a reality, while allowing businesses to support nature-positive initiatives that can be reported under new EU sustainability reporting directives.

ReFarm has secured over €1 million in funding to support nature-positive actions on Irish farms, alongside an accompanying research programme. Key funders include RWE Renewables Ireland, John Paul Construction, CIE Tours, BiOrbic, Trinity Business School, Community Foundation Ireland, and an impact investor.

Over the first two years, researchers from Trinity will study long-term funding models for businesses to invest in these nature-positive initiatives. This research, led by Professor Jane Stout from the School of Natural Sciences and Professor Martha O’Hagan from Trinity Business School, is supported by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland and the Bioeconomy research centre, BiOrbic.

ReFarm has already begun funding these nature-focused initiatives and will continue to do so over the next five years. More details can be found at www.refarm.ie.

Minister Pippa Hackett praised the ReFarm initiative, saying: “Two-thirds of Ireland's land is farmland, so collaborating with farmers is essential for achieving large-scale biodiversity gains. ReFarm is an exciting project that leverages private finance to complement public subsidies, which will be critical in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. The expertise of Burrenbeo Trust and Trinity College Dublin gives participating farmers confidence in the quality of advice and provides businesses with reassurance that the nature-positive outcomes they report under EU regulations are backed by top-tier research.”

Professor Jane Stout, Professor of Ecology and VP for Biodiversity & Climate Action at Trinity, emphasised the project's potential for meaningful change: “Engaging farmers in restoring biodiversity has the greatest potential for impact. Meanwhile, businesses are eager to invest in nature. ReFarm connects farmers and private-sector investors, providing essential funding for biodiversity restoration and a model to scale this impact.”

Professor Martha O’Hagan of Trinity Business School added: “ReFarm brings together expertise from both the School of Natural Sciences and Trinity Business School. By collaborating with businesses, farmers, and experts, we are piloting real-world projects from the outset and scaling them through innovative financial models and academic research. This initiative aims to make nature-friendly farming both sustainable and scalable, addressing our biodiversity and climate challenges.”

Dr Brendan Dunford, co-founder of ReFarm alongside Anke Heydenreich from Burrenbeo Trust, noted: “We believe there are enough farmers and funders committed to enhancing farmland biodiversity now. ReFarm will connect these groups and learn from their experiences to create a brighter future for nature and farming in Ireland.”

Peter Lefroy, Offshore Development Head for Ireland and UK West at RWE Renewables Ireland, added: “RWE Renewables Ireland is proud to be a partner in ReFarm. Our commitment to becoming climate-neutral by 2040 is driven by research and innovation. Our collaboration in this project strengthens our commitment to collective learning and knowledge sharing, enhancing our portfolio and contributing meaningfully to research and tangible actions that support Ireland’s ecosystems.”