A groundbreaking initiative, AgriFood Connect, has been launched to tackle the pressing challenges within the agriculture and food sectors across Ireland and Northern Ireland. This ambitious project seeks to accelerate innovation in the AgriFood and AgriTech industries by bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical, market-ready solutions tailored for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), early-stage companies, food manufacturers, and farmers.
Supported by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy Programme, which promotes cross-border collaboration, AgriFood Connect will be spearheaded by Munster Technological University’s AgriTech Ireland Cluster in conjunction with the Agri-Food Quest Competence Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. The project aims to address significant gaps in translating research findings into scalable solutions that SMEs can adopt. Many of these enterprises face obstacles such as limited resources, insufficient networks, and a lack of expertise, which hinder their ability to embrace new technologies. These challenges not only threaten the competitiveness of SMEs but also pose risks to the long-term sustainability and economic resilience of the agriculture and food production sectors.
AgriFood Connect will roll out in four distinct phases, each designed to foster strong partnerships and convert research insights into actionable, market-ready solutions. By connecting SMEs and research-performing organisations (RPOs) from both regions, the project will create a collaborative network that promotes knowledge exchange and collective problem-solving within the supply chain.
Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “InterTradeIreland welcomes this opportunity to support the AgriTech Ireland Cluster and AgriFood Quest Competence Centre with the delivery of the AgriFood Connect project. The clusters are working collaboratively on addressing critical challenges faced in the agri-food sector by fostering a strong, cross-border innovation ecosystem that bridges the gap between research and practical application.”
Kieran O’Donoghue, Educational Outreach Manager for the AgriTech Ireland Cluster, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential for fostering innovation. He noted that it represents a significant step in connecting researchers and industry leaders, ultimately enhancing sustainability and productivity across the agricultural landscape.
Stephane Durand, Manager of the Agri-Food Quest Competence Centre, highlighted the project’s ability to build upon existing initiatives that promote commercialization in AgriTech and FoodTech. He stated, “Connecting and building capacity to foster collaboration across these centres and the wider ecosystem provides great potential for start-ups and SMEs to nurture new products, services, and ideas for the benefit of the agri-food sector.”
Stakeholders in the industry are encouraged to engage with AgriFood Connect by completing an Expression of Interest form, which will facilitate their involvement in this transformative project. The collaborative effort aims to position Ireland as a global leader in AgriFood innovation, paving the way for a more sustainable and productive future in agriculture and food production.
