What was the challenge/problem addressed?

Lack of Business Model tailored for Farmers to give young farmers a formal role the decision making and running of the farm business. The model could also be used for farmers to construct a robust business model to amalgamate to businesses to improve viability, labour availability and achieve scale where relevant.

How did you solve the problem?

By creating a template legal agreement, national register, and quality standard for Farm Partnerships. A strong promotion campaign was also adopted including written media, radio, TV and testimonial videos. Teagasc engaged in research to uncover feedback

What is innovative in your practical case?

Creation of a bespoke template legal agreement to underpin farm partnerships and ensure that farmers set up a partnership that would function well from a legal and taxation perspective while also providing a robust process to dissolve the partnership and

What are the success factors in solving the problem?

Engagement with Farmers, Dept. of Agriculture, Revenue, Farm Organisations and engaging a reputable solicitor and accountant. Creating an independent technical specialist role to focus on and drive the initiative.

Lessons learned

To drive a process forward, you need a specialist advisor who is highly motivated, passionate about the benefits and focuses on solutions to challenges that arise while having the autonomy in their role to devote the time to the process.

What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?

The advisor and the advisory service plays a critical role in promoting the benefits to farmers to take up the partnership model. They must receive training from the specialist advisor to be competent in promoting the model and supporting farmers with the

Can your approach be transferred and/or adapted for other innovation challenges and regions?

Yes

Estimated transferability on a scale from 1 to 5

(where 1 is easy and 5 very difficult)

1

For sharing the experience on the good practice, please contact 

Ruth Fennell

ruth.fennell@teagasc.ie

Link to external information

www.teagasc.ie