Welcome to the Autumn edition of the AgTech Ireland Newsletter
2023 has been busy so far for AgTech Ireland.
Our round table last year with Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue helped us gain official recognition of the importance of agtech in supporting Irish agriculture to achieve its climate and environmental obligations. We have now an established relationship with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, with a dedicated senior official working with us.
In our ongoing engagement with the Department, we will keep the agtech agenda firmly on the table. This includes consultation on on-farm investment grant schemes such as TAMS. Also among our priorities are contribution to policy development and implementation in the agtech space, involvement in officially organised trade missions into and out of Ireland, and support for a variety of events aimed at promoting a favourable ecosystem for agtech businesses to flourish and support the sustainable development of Irish agriculture. AgTech Ireland is now the official voice for our industry.
We are also developing a strong relationship with Teagasc, and the main Universities’ agri and agtech research departments with a view to collaborating on events and identifying areas where agtech companies can support farmers’ journey to a lower climate and environmental footprint. We are also building our connections with Enterprise Ireland, who have recognised the importance of the Irish agtech industry not only to the sustainability of Irish agriculture and food production, but also as a highly valuable domestic and export business.
AgTech Ireland had thus far functioned entirely based on busy volunteers, but we have this summer recruited a part-time Chief Operations Officer in the person of Catherine Lascurettes. Catherine has already made a strong impact on our organisation.
With her support, we have successfully hosted 23 dairy-relevant exhibitors at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day on 4th July 2023 (see more below).
She will be engaging with existing and new members to optimise the value of their membership.
Enjoy the newsletter and feel free to share with your network.
Padraig Hennessy
Padraig Hennessy,
Chairperson
AgTech Ireland at Moorepark Dairy Open Day 2023 - A remarkable first!
Tuesday 4th July was the first time AgTech Ireland had a presence at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day with our own AgTech Ireland Avenue marquee. Our partnership with Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland was crucial to allow us be there on the day, and we were delighted to have had this opportunity to interact with some of Ireland’s most business focused dairy farmers.
The quality of research on farm practices and technologies to help dairy farmers improve the sustainability of their farms from an economic, social and environmental perspective is what attracts the thousands of farmers who attended. The heavy showers did not dampen the mood, as farmers went from research reporting stations around the Open Day circuit to a range of talks in the Ornua Tent, calling through the AgTech Ireland Avenue marquee and meeting our 23 agtech exhibitors on the way.
Irish agriculture, especially livestock farming, is facing challenges to reduce its carbon footprint rapidly. There is an excellent plan of action in place, underpinned by the recently revised Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) which many farmers are already engaged with, as was evident at the Open Day. However, it will be very challenging for Irish agriculture to meet its climate targets in good time. Agtech, and the multitude of specialised solutions that it can make available to farmers, have a vital role to play in supporting Irish farmers’ economic and labour efficiencies, their social licence to produce the quality, sustainable food they are best suited to supply for the world, and their environmental and climate performance.
Some of our member company representatives exhibiting at Moorepark Dairy Open Day 2023
A big thank you to Teagasc, especially their Moorepark Open Day 23 organising Team headed by Laurence Shalloo, and to James Maloney of Enterprise Ireland and his agtech colleagues for trusting us and partnering with us to allow our member companies to showcase their innovations on the day.
We owe a very special thank you to Siobhán Jordan and James Healy of Teagasc for their support around the event.
We were also delighted to discover with Vista Milk researchers some of their current research projects. We plan to have further engagement with Donagh Berry and his Team in coming months to bring together farm sustainability researchers and the private companies which can bring their solutions to the agricultural community.
Huge appreciation, too for our member companies, who played a blinder to ensure the entire event was a success and have given us very positive feedback on their experience.
This was the first time that private, commercial companies could present their dairy-relevant innovations in such a non-commercial, Teagasc forum, to support the agri-sector in delivering on its climate and environmental obligations. We look forward to further collaborations and events with Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland to involve our member companies, as we are clear they have much to contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability journey of Irish agriculture.
Some of our plans for 2023/2024
Over the next few months, we are planning a number of events to provide our members with opportunities to network, form partnerships with other members, help us be the voice of agtech in dealing with government departments and agencies, learn, and gain exposure for their businesses.
The following are coming up soon:
In conjunction with UCD AgriTech – Two-day joint training session on Social Media for Businesses with AI Tools (see more below)
Tuesday 31st October – joint AgriTech New Zealand/AgTech Ireland Agritech Summit “Shared Ground”– more here.
Second or third week of January 2024 – field trip to the Netherlands – the role of agtech in an environmentally challenged agricultural ecosystem
Our plans for the coming months/next year also include:
Continuing to advocate for our sector and enhance the visibility of AgTech Ireland
Nurturing our formalised relationship with DAFM, including input on agrifood research and innovation strategy
Meetings with trade delegations to Ireland and participation in international trade missions
Collaboration with Business France for networking visits by French companies to Ireland with a return itinerary for AgTech Ireland members to France
Secure AgTech Ireland’s presence at prominent agri-events to promote our members and their innovations
Organise ICBF/AgTech Ireland workshop to promote the sharing of data and interoperability
Host EI/AgTech Ireland discussion groups to encourage networking and collaboration within the industry
Collaborate with major tech companies to showcase the intersection of tech and agriculture
Continue sharing regular agtech newsletters and invite members to contribute with content
Host an agtech trade event with a media partner to promote the latest innovations and solutions
Organise networking events for members to facilitate communication, collaboration and exchange of knowledge
Expand membership among start-ups and established businesses, within agriculture and adjacent industries
Joint AgTechUCD/AgTech Ireland Training: Social Media for Business with AI Tools 50% discount for AgTech Ireland members
AgTech Ireland is joining forces with AgTechUCD to make available to our members an exceptional two-day in-person opportunity to sharpen their social media skills utilising AI tools, including ChatGPT.
Over the course of two immersive days hosted at UCD Lyons Farm on 30th August and 6th September, participants will delve into the intricacies of social media platforms and explore strategies to amplify brand awareness and engagement. You will be guided through the process of creating a robust social media strategy tailored to the unique needs of AgTech companies, ensuring maximum impact and a competitive edge in the industry.
One key aspect of the training will focus on the integration of AI tools for content creation. Participants will learn how to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance their content development processes, saving valuable time while maintaining creativity and authenticity.
We will share invaluable insights and practical tips to help participants measure the success of their social media efforts, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to optimise performance. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to master the art of capturing high-quality content using smartphones.
The event will be held at UCD Lyons Farms, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, W23ENY2 from 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 30th August and Wednesday 6th September 2023.
Tickets for the two-day event, including lunch and networking breaks, cost €100, with a 50% discount for AgTech Ireland member companies. Paid up Agtech Ireland members will receive their code by separate mail-out.
To find out more, and book, see here: LINK
AgTechUCD #Agccelerator Programme Applications are OPEN
Applications for the 2023 AgTechUCD #Agccelerator Programme is now OPEN. If you are or know an innovative startup with a disruptive technology in the agtech, agrifood, veterinary or equine sectors, this programme is potentially for you! The #Agccelerator is tailored to understand the particular needs and challenges facing startups and consists of a 12 week programme with practical workshops, giving you the tools templates, support and guidance needed to accelerate your startup, including:
Business & Leadership Skills Development
Mentorship by Industry Experts
Weekly business development workshops & guest talks
Peer to Peer Networking & Learning
Access to Investor Community
Media profiling of your startup/company
And much, much more!
Participation on the programme is FREE the only cost is YOUR TIME – “time to work on your business not in your business”.
To learn more about the Agccelerator Programme visit the AgTechUCD website: CLICK HERE or contact Leo McGrane to discuss: [email protected].
Agtech hub at Limerick Agricultural Show
The Limerick Agricultural Show will take place on Sunday 27th August 2023 at the Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell. It hosts 150 trade exhibitors and up to 1,000 competitors each year, attracting up to 20,000 visitors from across Ireland’s Southwest.
This year again, the Limerick Show organisers have decided to dedicate a central area of the Show to a sustainability focused Agriculture and Technology Hub. This will provide opportunities for agtech companies to exhibit sustainable growing and feeding solutions, with presentations and discussions to take place during the day.
While AgTech Ireland has no involvement in this event, we are very happy to encourage our member companies to take an interest.
Should you wish to book a stand, or find out more, contact the Limerick Agricultural Show organisers at 061 355298 or email [email protected].
The AgTech Ireland Newsletter is developed by ifac, leading professional services provider for Irish agtech companies focusing on growth planning, tax strategy, accountancy and corporate finance advisory services. Connect – [email protected]
Agtech Career Opportunities
AgTech Ireland member companies are hiring. Check out some of the exciting roles available:
Micron Agritech are recruiting a Product Designer (UX), QA Technician and Senior Software Engineer. Find out more here: https://careers.micronagritech.com/#jobs
MSD Animal Health Ireland are recruiting for a number of Ireland and internationally based roles. Find out more here: https://jobs.msd.com/gb/en/search-results
Pearson Milking Technology is recruiting for an Area Sales Representative for the Munster area. Find out more here: https://pearsonmilking.com/careers/
Alltech Ireland are recruiting a Marketing Manager. Find out more here: https://www.alltech.com/en-ie/about/careers/marketing-manager-alltech-ireland
Dairymaster have several vacancies for engineers, installation team members, production operatives, app developers etc. Find out more here: https://www.dairymaster.com/ie/careers/
Grasstec are seeking engineers and looking to fill other roles in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Find out more here: https://www.grasstecgroup.com/careers/
If you are hiring, get in touch with us and we will share as part of our quarterly newsletter – [email protected]
Meet our Executive Council
AgTech Ireland Members’ Questions
Are you a member or thinking about joining AgTech Ireland? Check out some of the commonly asked questions below.
Why join AgTech Ireland?
To access a network of like-minded agribusiness leaders
To contribute to and benefit from advocacy and lobbying campaigns
To attend exclusive agriculture industry events and stakeholder meetings
To have the opportunity to join trade missions engaging with global leaders & politicians
To stay in the loop with the latest news and insights from our newsletters and other communications
To be part of the unified voice for agtech in Ireland and ensure its success
What is the best way to utilise my AgTech Ireland membership?
Engage with us
Keep a close eye on our communications – direct emails, quarterly newsletters such as this one, social media platforms, mainstream media articles – to find out about our events.
Make sure to come along to maximise the opportunities.
Review the member network.There may be opportunities to work with other members to enhance your business.
Don’t be afraid to connect on LinkedIn or drop them an email to explore opportunities.
Come forward with ideas. If you have something you feel is important and could benefit the wider sector, reach out to our COO Catherine Lascurettes or one of our Executive Council members.
What other organisations are AgTech Ireland looking to collaborate with?
At home we are engaged with the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc as well as Enterprise Ireland.
We collaborate with UCD AgriTech, the MTU AgriTech Ireland Cluster. We are also looking to work with ICBF, VistaMilk and other domestic organisations in the agricultural sector.
There are still more opportunities to be explored with government agencies and private organisations as we develop over the coming year.
Abroad we have signed an MOU with AgriTech New Zealand to identify collaborative opportunities for members
We are exploring collaboration opportunities with Business France UK and Ireland.
Our plan is to create further opportunities internationally utilising our own network, the Enterprise Ireland international network and organisations similar to AgTech Ireland in key markets.
Should you wish to join AgTech Ireland, email [email protected]