Press Release | 2nd March 2026
ReFarm, a pioneering Irish organisation channelling public and private funding directly to farmers for nature restoration, has attracted over €3 million in funding commitments out to 2030, with further investment expected as the project scales. This money will be used for research and for delivery of biodiversity incentive payments to farmers. It follows direct investment of €205,000 in 2025, supporting 80 farmers across 21 counties to deliver 139 habitat projects.
These figures will be announced at the launch of the organisation’s 2025 Impact Report, taking place today (Monday, 2nd of March) at the RDS in Dublin.
The 139 individual habitat actions, funded by the project, included:
- The creation of 1.8 hectares of new wildlife pond habitat
- The planting of 1.9 km of new hedgerows
- The establishment of 15,500m2 of mini-woodland copses
- Support for 49 hectares of species-rich grassland through result-based payments
- Support for additional farmer-nominated, nature-friendly actions
Backed by €1.5 million in seed funding over five years, ReFarm plans to double its annual farmer-led investment to €400,000 in 2026. ReFarm ultimately aims to scale the model nationwide in support of Government and EU nature restoration targets and policies.
The programme was co-founded by investment professional Anke Heydenreich and conservationist Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust. It combines public and private investments in nature with independent, evidence-based research from the Schools of Natural Sciences and Business at Trinity College Dublin, co-led by Professors Jane Stout and Martha O’Hagan. The result is a research-backed, results-based model that generates measurable biodiversity and climate benefits while boosting farm incomes.
The report notes that while considerable ecosystem-service value can be created by these investments – including carbon drawdown, biodiversity gains, water management and climate resilience – translating that value into investable, credible financial structures remains a key challenge. However, the report concludes that private finance can complement public schemes where projects are long-term, outcome-focused and independently verified.
Speaking ahead of the launch, ReFarm Co-Founder Brendan Dunford said:
“Ireland’s farmers manage over 70% of our land. They know their farms better than anyone. If we are serious about restoring nature and meeting our climate obligations, we must invest in farmers as partners in delivery. Taking a farmer-centred approach is key – minimising paperwork, ensuring prompt payments and offering practical advice are all part of this.
“Last year’s pilot showed that farmers can deliver results and value. Interest in participation significantly exceeded available funding, demonstrating that there is a strong appetite among the farming community to seek out these nature-based solutions.”
ReFarm argues that Ireland’s evolving policy landscape, including EU nature restoration legislation and the European Commission’s roadmap towards nature credits, presents a significant opportunity to position Irish farmers at the forefront of high-integrity nature markets.
Co-Founder Anke Heydenreich added:
“By 2026, we will double farmer-led investment in nature to €400,000, taking total investment through the ReFarm pilot to €3 million. Building on Ireland’s EU Presidency, we will convene farmers, researchers, policymakers, businesses and technology partners to lay the foundations for scaling ReFarm nationwide and beyond.”
“We cannot wait for perfect systems to emerge. ReFarm is one practical way to act, and many small, well-designed actions, compounding over time, can deliver meaningful change”.
Research co-lead, Professor of Ecology, Jane Stout, from Trinity College Dublin said:
“Investment in nature is urgently needed, across all sectors, and ReFarm provides a mechanism to deliver that investment directly onto farms. By creating ecological features in the right places, we can support nature and benefit people at the same time”.
Research co-lead, Professor Martha O’Hagan of Trinity Business School added:
“An interdisciplinary approach is needed to make sure that the right actions in the right places are funded in a way that makes sense for corporates, for farmers and for nature, and this is what the ReFarm research team in TCD are investigating.”