Deep roots help Irish agritech sector blossom

It is no surprise international demand for Irish innovation remains at an all-time high, as Irish-owned enterprises establish a strong reputation for delivering cutting-edge and quality solutions for global challenges.

This hard-earned reputation is down to the talent and agility of our forward-thinking entrepreneurs, whose products and services are being sought after by business leaders from across the globe, including a growing cohort of talented Irish agritech innovators.

The Irish agritech sector employs more than 4,700 people here.

Enterprise Ireland supports about 130 companies in a number of areas, including developing smart farming solutions; farm equipment; livestock handling and housing; crop cultivation and protection and animal health and nutrition. These Irish-owned companies made sales of nearly €1.6bn in 2023, with exports at €1bn.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish-owned companies to start, grow and scale, and to win business in new global markets, and this includes working with this cohort of talented agritech innovators to address evolving market needs, and to explore new opportunities in international markets and to build on existing relationships.

Enterprise Ireland recently hosted the 11th annual Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships, which gave 50 agritech innovators, companies, researchers and academia the opportunity to showcase their products and solutions to a large international audience.

Eighty international buyers from 20 different global markets, including North America, the eurozone and Asia were eager to meet and engage with these agritech innovators.

It also gave these international buyers an opportunity to see and learn first-hand about important and exciting innovations, and how they can help to deliver solutions for increasing challenges in the sector, such as growing demands for food, minding our planet for future generations and ensuring sustainable futures for farm families.

This year’s Innovation Arena had a focus on ‘Innovations for Future Generations’, and showcased pioneering solutions to enhance efficiencies in animal science and technology, agri-engineering, digital tech, animal health and nutrition, sustainability and climate action, and farm health and safety.

Reap Interactive won a €10,000 prize for its innovation BovinePlus after being named as ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’

There was a live competition at the Innovation Arena, where international buyers had the opportunity to see nine companies deliver a live pitch, with three competing in each of the three different categories.

Three companies were ultimately named as the winners by a panel of judges. Reap Interactive won a €10,000 prize for its innovation BovinePlus after being named as ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’.

This solution tracks individual animals and uses AI and image analysis to provide real-time data on the weight, health and water intake of the animals. The system identifies issues including underperforming animals and enhances the efficiency of the feed provided to them. The gleaned data can offer insights that can boost farm profitability and efficiency.

‘Green Impact Award’ went to Easyfix for their revolutionary slurry treatment technology, ‘ePulse’

The ‘Innovation Arena Champion Award’, for established firms with a focus on scaling and innovation, went to Samco Manufacturing Ltd for a new application system and mulch film designed around establishing earlier planting and growth of potatoes and this will ultimately enable earlier harvesting and entry to the market where growers will have a greater price premium.

The new ‘Green Impact Award’ went to Easyfix for their revolutionary slurry treatment technology, ‘ePulse’. The system employs an electro-photomagnetic treatment, which stimulates microbial activity naturally without the use of chemicals or additives, reducing ammonia and methane emissions in slurry storage systems

A number of other companies who entered this year’s competition were also recognised with a ‘Certificate of Achievement for Innovation’, for having received a minimum qualifying score for their entry. These companies were HerdSync, Herdwatch, Horse Sport Ireland, KME, M-TEC, MyGug, Precision Microbes, Tigercomb and Watt Footprint.

These innovations, and all the agritech exhibitors in this year’s Innovation Arena, highlighted how Irish companies are moving towards digital and sustainable farming solutions ensuring the sector continues to compete and grow in international markets.

James Maloney is a Senior Development Adviser in EI, and is the Innovation Arena Project Manager

Reporting on:independent.ie