At the National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois on September 17, 2023, the spotlight shone brightly on innovation in the agritech sector as Enterprise Ireland hosted its annual Innovation Arena Awards. This year’s event celebrated advancements that promise to enhance farm productivity and environmental sustainability. Among the notable winners was Reap Interactive, a Roscommon-based startup that secured both the Start-up Innovator of the Year award and a €10,000 prize for its cutting-edge livestock management tool, BovinePlus.
BovinePlus leverages artificial intelligence and image analysis to monitor individual animals, providing real-time insights into their weight, health, and water intake. This granular approach allows farmers to identify underperforming livestock and optimize feed efficiency, which can significantly boost farm profitability. Kieran Supple, founder of Reap Interactive, emphasized the tool’s potential impact not just on productivity but also on the environment. By focusing on individual animal performance rather than herd averages, farmers can rear livestock more efficiently, thereby reducing waste and resource consumption.
The recognition of Reap Interactive’s innovation comes at a time when the agritech sector is increasingly viewed as a vital component in addressing global food security and sustainability challenges. With plans to expand into England, Europe, and the United States, backed by a €1 million investment from Enterprise Ireland and a private equity investor, Reap Interactive is poised for significant growth. This expansion could amplify the benefits of BovinePlus, potentially transforming livestock management practices across multiple markets.
The competition for the Start-up Innovator of the Year award was fierce, with other finalists including Cotter Agritech and RT Sales. Cotter Agritech, known for its success in the AgTech UCD accelerator programme, showcased its own innovative solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural efficiency. Meanwhile, the Innovation Arena Championship Award was claimed by Samco Agricultural Manufacturing for its innovative application system and mulch film designed to facilitate earlier potato planting. This advancement could revolutionize potato farming by extending the planting season and maximizing yield potential.
Another standout of the day was Easyfix, which won the Green Impact Award for its novel technology that reduces slurry emissions. By stimulating bacterial growth in slurry through the application of low electrical current, Easyfix’s solution aims to mitigate ammonia and methane emissions—two significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. This technology aligns with growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures on farmers to adopt more sustainable practices.
Enterprise Ireland’s CEO, Leo Clancy, highlighted the importance of Irish-owned enterprises in driving economic growth, particularly within the agritech sector. He underscored the critical role that innovation will play in shaping the future of Irish agriculture, as companies like Reap Interactive and Easyfix lead the charge toward more sustainable and efficient farming practices.
As the agritech landscape continues to evolve, the recognition of these innovative solutions at the Innovation Arena Awards serves as a reminder of the sector’s potential to address both economic and environmental challenges. The advancements showcased at this year’s event not only reflect the ingenuity of Irish entrepreneurs but also signal a broader shift toward technology-driven agriculture that prioritizes sustainability and efficiency. With the backing of organizations like Enterprise Ireland, these innovations are set to make a lasting impact, both domestically and internationally.
