Ireland’s agtech sector is developing rapidly, with new technologies emerging to support farm efficiency, sustainability and decision-making. Through collaboration with AgTech Ireland, Teagasc is helping to create structured opportunities for companies, researchers, advisors and farmers to engage around practical innovation. AgTech Ireland is the representative body for the Irish agtech industry, from start up to well established companies. The organisation aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking between researchers, farm advisors and agtech innovators, to mutual benefit, but in particular to support the rapid adoption, at scale, of essential new technology by farmers to optimise their resource efficiency, their social appeal and environmental sustainability.
Challenge: Connecting agtech innovation with research insights and farmer needs
Teagasc aims to maintain strong links with the agtech industry in Ireland, while AgTech Ireland seeks opportunities for its member companies to engage directly with farmers interested in sustainable innovation. With the agricultural sector under increasing pressure to adopt environmentally responsible practices, there is a need to connect technology developers with farmers, advisors and researchers in settings informed by practical farm experience and independent scientific knowledge.
Solution: Dedicated exhibition space for agtech at Moorepark Dairy Open Day in collaboration with AgTech Ireland
In collaboration with AgTech Ireland, Teagasc provided a dedicated exhibition space at Moorepark Open Day, one of the key farmer-facing events in the agricultural calendar. This enabled 21 AgTech Ireland member companies to present on-farm sustainability solutions to several thousand farmers. The event featured innovations across grassland management, breeding, infrastructure, economics and One Health approaches, allowing companies to engage with farmers in a setting informed by Teagasc’s research, advisory expertise and understanding of practical farm-level sustainability challenges.
Impact: Strengthening the pathway from innovation to informed adoption
The initiative strengthened engagement between Teagasc, AgTech Ireland, agtech companies and farmers by creating a direct interface between technology developers and a targeted farming audience. Companies gained an opportunity to receive feedback on the relevance of their solutions, while farmers interact with emerging technologies aimed at supporting productivity, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Next steps
Teagasc and AgTech Ireland will continue to explore collaborations including with the ConnectEd programme of webinars, podcasts and training days.
We value hugely our partnership with Teagasc, as strengthening the relationship between researchers, advisors and innovators is essential to the development of our industry, as well as the achievement of our national agricultural sustainability policy targets and obligations. -AgTech Ireland