AgTech Ireland has won a seat on the Expert Advisory Group shaping Enterprise 2035, the Government’s long-term strategy for enterprise growth and job creation. It is a clear sign that a year of focused ministerial dialogue is paying off.

Throughout 2026, the association has made direct access to government a strategic priority. It has built working relationships with Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, and Minister of State Noel Grealish.

A voice at the heart of national policy

Chair Lloyd Pearson received the invitation directly from Minister Burke, in recognition of AgTech Ireland’s expertise in the sector. The Group will meet every two months and advise Government on the trends, opportunities and risks facing Irish enterprise over the next decade. Its work builds on the White Paper on Enterprise 2022–2030. Through the Group, the priorities of Ireland’s agtech and rural enterprise base will be heard where national strategy is made.

TAMS, emissions and funding on the table with Minister Heydon

Chair Lloyd Pearson, Vice Chair Conan Condon and Directors Ronan Boyle and Padraig Hennessy met Minister Heydon and senior Department officials. The aim was to build a more structured two-way channel between industry and government. The Minister recognised AgTech Ireland as the established industry association for the sector.

AgTech Ireland agreed to prepare an industry-led policy paper on the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), which is under significant strain. Its latest tranche drew 60,000 applications averaging €8,000, compared with 10,000 averaging €3,000 in the previous scheme, with no matching increase in funding. Other topics included:

• agtech's role in generational renewal and farm viability • methane reduction, where Ireland trails some international peers • improving Irish success rates in Horizon funding

AgTech Ireland also offered to host international visitors during Ireland’s EU Presidency.

Next up: new markets with Minister Grealish

Minister of State Grealish is responsible for Food Promotion, New Markets, and Research and Development. The upcoming meeting with him will focus on:
• support for agtech firms entering emerging markets, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa • gaps in export supports for markets outside Enterprise Ireland's priorities, including improving the Pathfinder strategy • stronger links with research institutions for validation and trialling, and encouraging manufacturing at home rather than abroad • barriers to scaling, from regulatory complexity to limited access to international partners

Members will be consulted on each action as it moves forward.