Summer 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the Summer 2025 Editionof the AgTech Ireland Newsletter

Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the Summer 2025 edition of the AgTech Ireland Newsletter.

It’s been a busy and energising season across the agtech landscape. Our recent Conference “Transforming Agriculture with AI” in partnership with the Farmers Journal and sponsored by FBD and Enterprise Ireland, was a highlight, showcasing how AI based innovation is reshaping Irish agriculture. We also held a highly productive Financing AgTech Innovation session with ISIF at NTMA HQ, bringing together funders, corporates and innovators for real conversations about scaling impact.

International engagement continues to be a key priority. We were pleased to host valuable discussions with New Zealand Trade Representative Hamish Marr and Dutch Agricultural Counsellor Philip de Jong, both underlining Ireland’s leadership potential in sustainable agtech, in light of the many common challenges all three countries’ agricultures face.

While agri-commodity markets are strong and 2025 income projections look positive, challenges remain. Geopolitical instability, including Trump-era tariffs, Middle East tensions, and the ongoing war in Ukraine are all disrupting trade. At home, concerns around the Nitrates Derogation still weigh heavily.

Now, more than ever, farmers need support to adopt best practices and innovative technologies to stay competitive, sustainable, and resilient.

Thank you for your continued engagement with AgTech Ireland. I hope you enjoy this edition and, as always, we welcome your thoughts, ideas and involvement.

With best regards,
Lloyd Pearson
Chair, AgTech Ireland

Last Few Exhibition Spaces Available!
Moorepark Dairy Open Day 2025

Don’t delay!
A limited number of exhibition spaces remain in the AgTech Ireland Marquee at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day, taking place on 2nd July 2025.

This is an exclusive members-only opportunity to showcase your innovation at Ireland’s premier dairy industry event, attended by thousands of progressive, business- and technology-focused dairy farmers.

As an exhibitor, you will:

Showcase your agtech solution to a targeted and engaged farming audience
Network with fellow innovators and industry stakeholders
Connect with Teagasc researchers and scientists driving agri-innovation
Gain visibility within a high-impact national platform

Not a member yet? Now is the time to join AgTech Ireland and secure your place in the marquee.

Spaces are almost gone — don’t miss out!

For more information or to reserve your spot, contact:
???? catherine@agtechireland.ie

Note: there is an additional cost to securing a space in the AgTech Ireland Moorepark marquee.

Transforming Agriculture with Artificial Intelligence:
a seminal event for AgTech Ireland

AgTech Ireland’s flagship conference, Transforming Agriculture with AI, held at the Curragh Racecourse in May, was a seminal event and a major milestone for our organisation and Ireland’s agtech community.

Organised in partnership with the Irish Farmers Journal, and proudly sponsored by FBD Insurance and Enterprise Ireland, with sessions sponsor Herdwatch, and academic partners MTU and the Walton Institute’s ENTIRE programme, the event brought together a packed house of agtech leaders, farmers, researchers, policymakers and industry representatives to explore the potential — and realities — of artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Minister Martin Heydon opened the conference, emphasising the key role AI will play in helping Irish farmers improve resource efficiency, productivity, and their environmental footprint.

Dr Patricia Scanlon, Ireland’s AI Ambassador, warned that AI is not just another trend — it’s the fourth industrial revolution. Rapidly advancing and deeply disruptive, AI demands engagement now if the sector is to stay competitive.

The conference programme was structured around four focused sessions:

Global AgTech in Action – A look at international examples of AI adoption in agriculture, and how academic and state institutions are supporting validation and scale-up of new technologies.
AI Reshaping the Agri-Food Ecosystem – Exploring EU-level frameworks and national strategies, and how AI is being used across Europe to drive innovation in food systems.
Solving On-Farm Challenges with AI – Featuring Irish farmers and agtech service providers discussing how AI is helping address real-world challenges in productivity, labour, and sustainability.
Irish AgTech in Action – Showcasing cutting-edge Irish innovations, including Herdwatch’s launch of Herdi and Micron Agritech’s parasite diagnostics kits, and offering practical guidance on how agribusinesses can begin their AI journey.

Key takeaways included:

AI is no longer optional — it’s an essential tool for improving farm and food system performance.
Data is valuable only when refined and interpreted — AI can turn raw data into actionable insights, but it requires thoughtful integration and governance.
Technology must meet farmers where they are — tools must be affordable, intuitive, and well-supported to drive real adoption.
Policy, research, and innovation must align — a joined-up approach is essential to creating the conditions for AI to thrive in agriculture.

We extend our sincere thanks to our partners at the Irish Farmers Journal, our sponsors and academic supporters, and all speakers, moderators, and attendees who made the day such a success.

This conference underscored AgTech Ireland’s role as a convenor of ideas and catalyst for innovation. We look forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead.

For access to the Conference’s resources, including programme, speakers’ profiles, presentations and photo gallery, see here: (button)

Stay tuned to see what AgTech Ireland has in store for next year’s — we’re already planning another impactful event to drive innovation in our agri-food sector.

Financing the Scaling of AgTech Innovation – A Packed Member Session at ISIF HQ

A big thank you to the team at the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) for hosting a well-attended AgTech Ireland member session at the NTMA headquarters in Dublin Docklands on Financing the Scaling of AgTech Innovation.

With member companies, investment funds, and pillar banks AIB and Bank of Ireland in the room, the morning kicked off with opening remarks from ISIF Director Nick Ashmore and AgTech Ireland Chair Lloyd Pearson.

Cathal Fitzgerald, Senior Investment Director at ISIF, provided a global investment overview, followed by Senior Investment Manager Sean Mulvany on agtech venture trends. A lively panel discussion chaired by AgTech Ireland Director and Head of Group Growth and Agrifood Consulting at Ifac David Leydon featured Lorcan Bannon (Tirlán), Ronan O’Halloran (Kepak) and Conan Condon (Alltech), exploring how corporates can support agtech startups.

The session closed with a fireside chat between Justin McCarthy of GlasPort Bio and James Greevy of Herdwatch on GlasPort Bio’s funding journey and breakthrough methane-reducing technologies.

Key takeaways included:
???? Agtech aligns with three of ISIF’s four investment missions: climate action, scaling business, and food & agriculture.
???? Strong funding and clear policy pathways are vital to scaling climate-smart innovations like methane reduction tech.
???? Building meaningful relationships with funders requires listening, not just pitching.
???? “Beware the Magpie Strategy” – funders should prioritise impact over shiny distractions.

A brilliant, insight-packed morning and excellent networking opportunity.

Huge thanks to ISIF Director Nick Ashmore, Cathal Fitzgerald, Joe Ryan and Sean Mulvany for their hospitality and collaboration.

Building Global Connections
to Tackle Shared Agri-Food Challenges

At AgTech Ireland, we understand that the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture and food production are global in nature — and that innovation in agtech plays a central role in addressing them.

In recent weeks, we were delighted to strengthen international relationships through a series of high-level engagements with key global partners, including:

Hamish Marr, New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy
Trevor Mallard, Ambassador of New Zealand to Ireland
Philip de Jong, Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ireland
Niall Hurson, Agricultural Policy Advisor, Dutch Embassy

These conversations provided valuable insights into the shared pressures facing agriculture globally — from sustainability and climate adaptation to food security and trade resilience — and highlighted the crucial role that agtech innovation can play in responding to these challenges.

We look forward to continuing these international collaborations and ensuring Irish agtech remains engaged, informed, and connected on the global stage.

AgTech Ireland – AgriTech New Zealand joint webinars:
Global Agtech Exchange

Last March, AgTech Ireland and AgriTech New Zealand again came together for the second episode of the Global Agritech Exchange – Agritech impact on the ground.

Leading farmers and innovators from Ireland and New Zealand shared real-world experiences, challenges, and strategies for successful agtech adoption. MC and AgriTech New Zealand CEO Brendan O’Connell was joined by Irish dairy farmer and agtech user Andrew Darmody, Catherine Heffernan, Technical and Customer Success Manager at MSD Animal Health Ireland, New Zealand dairy farmer and Digital Marketing Specialist Amber Carpenter and Founder and CTO at Aimer Farming Jeremy Bryant.

Key discussion points:

Decision-making: Farmers consider the specific goals of a technology, return on investment (ROI), and whether it suits their farming system.
Beyond financial ROI: Time savings and improvements to work-life balance are also important factors.
Talent retention: Good technology can help attract and retain staff, but not all skilled farm workers are comfortable with tech.
Wider farm team: Decision-making involves more than just farmers — consultants, vets, accountants, contractors, and tech suppliers all play a role.
Risk takers: Tech developers can work with innovative, risk-tolerant farmers to test and refine their products.
Relationships matter: Strong relationships between farmers and tech suppliers are essential. Trust depends on reliable support and communication.
From data to insight: Farmers need usable insights, not just raw data. Tech must help them make informed, practical decisions.

Main takeaway:
Strong relationships between farmers and technology providers are vital to building trust, understanding real needs, and ensuring successful agtech adoption.

You can watch the second episode in this series here.

Join us later this year (date TBC) for our final episode dealing with the future pipeline for agtech.

Some of our plans for 2025/26

Members-only exhibition space in an AgTech Ireland marquee at Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day on 2^nd July (see start of newsletter for more details)
Supporting the Asia Matter Cork Summit Business on 19^th and 20^th June 2025, focused on the future of food and agribusiness. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Final episode of joint AgTech Ireland/AgriTech New Zealand Global Agtech Exchange, on the topic of the pipeline of innovation – autumn date TBC.
Members’ networking event with discussion panel hosted by member company – autumn/winter date TBC
Members only January 2026 field trip – destination and date TBC
2026 AgTech Ireland Conference – date/venue/theme TBC – to coincide with Ireland’s presidency of the European Union – July to December 2026.
Continued collaborations with Teagasc at relevant Open Days. Details TBC.

AgTech Ireland member companies are recruiting!

Pearson Milking Technology, due to continuing expansion, are constantly looking for new team members. Send CV and cover letter to: HR@pearsonmilking.com
Micron Agritech are recruiting for a Customer Success Manager Ireland, and a Production Engineer (associate) – both Dublin based. https://careers.micronagritech.com/#jobs
Herdwatch are inviting you to join the herd! They have a number of opportunities in customer success and member experience. See here: https://herdwatch.com/en-ie/join-the-herd-we-are-hiring/
SmaXtec have a number of opportunities for dairy cow health and feeding management, based in Ireland and in the UK. https://smaxtec.com/en/about-us/career/
Grasstec Group have a number of available positions for dairy livestock specialists and service manager for Vantage Ireland. https://www.grasstecgroup.com/c/careers-at-grasstec/31

The AgTech Ireland Board met to strategise on the “Transforming Agriculture with AI” Conference: Padraig Hennessy; Catherine Lascurettes; Catherine Heffernan; Lloyd Pearson; David Leydon; James Greevy; William Minchin.