In an era of increasing change for agriculture, cutting-edge innovations to help futureproof the sector have never been more important, and Irish innovators are at the fore as they continue to deliver solutions for global challenges.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish businesses to start, compete, scale and connect, and our new strategy ‘Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally’ outlines our commitment to creating opportunities in communities across every region in Ireland - and our innovative agri-tech entrepreneurs are at the heart of that.

Enterprise Ireland’s annual Innovation Arena Awards are focused on fostering the development of Ireland’s agritech innovators.

This year’s competition, which will return to the 2025 National Ploughing Championships (NPC), is offering these entrepreneurs the opportunity to exhibit and compete at one of Europe’s largest outdoor events.

The competition is hosted in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA).

It provides an annual exhibition platform showcasing innovative solutions from Irish agri-tech companies and innovators to thousands of domestic and international visitors and buyers over the course of the three-day event, as the NPC typically attracts more than 240,000 visitors each year.

Entries are now being accepted for this year’s Innovation Arena Awards, with applications being invited from Irish-owned companies, research and academia, who are delivering solutions that have the potential to drive positive change in the Irish agriculture sector, delivering efficiencies on farms, and supporting more sustainable practises, which can help to futureproof the industry for generations to come.  

‘Accelerate sustainable Irish agri business’ is the focus of this year’s competition, and there are three categories, including the ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ award, which consists of a €10,000 prize, with mentoring and supports from specialist Enterprise Ireland advisors.

The Enterprise Ireland ‘Innovation Arena Champion Award’ is for established companies with a focus on scaling and innovation, while the ‘Green Impact Award’ is for a company whose innovation is focused on sustaining the development of food and farming for future generations.

Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena manager, James Maloney said that last year’s competition saw applications for innovations and technological solutions focused on a range of issues, including food security, animal health and nutrition, sustainability and climate action, farm health and safety, and efficiencies on farm.

Maloney said: “We shortlisted 30 companies last year, and they were interviewed and assessed by our panel.

"A total of nine companies were named as finalists, three companies in each category, and they were invited to compete for the awards by presenting their innovations on stage at the Innovation Arena during the National Ploughing Championships,

Maloney said that with increasing expectations in relation to sustainability and costs, it has never been more important for the agricultural sector to be agile, 

“We’ve saw an increase in the number of innovations that are harnessing AI tools in recent years,” he added. 

“The technology is giving developers the opportunity to look at things they couldn’t do up until now.”

Reap Interactive was the 2024 winner of the ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ Award, for Its innovation ‘BovinePlus’, which aims to revolutionise farming by tracking each animal individually, eliminating reliance on herd averages.

The technology does this by utilising artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to provide real-time data on weight, health, and water intake, optimising profitability by pinpointing issues such as underperforming animals and enhancing feed efficiency.

BovinePlus can offer farmers unparalleled insights, boosting profitability and efficiencies, and supporting sustainable livestock management.

Speaking about his win, founder of Reap Interactive, Kieran Supple, described it as being “great validation for the work we are doing”.

Supple said: “Winning the Start-Up Innovator of the Year award was a great achievement for our company and a great validation for our technology ‘BovinePlus’. 

"The Innovation Arena was a fantastic opportunity to exhibit at one of the most influential events in the sector, and we would encourage anyone considering submitting an application to enter and to learn from those around them and to enjoy the process.”

The nine finalists selected for this year will be invited to participate in a pitching competition in front of a panel of judges and live audience at the Innovation Arena on the first day of the NPC, which is being hosted in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly from 16- 18 September. 

The deadline for entries for this year’s Innovation Arena competition is 5:00p.m. on 6 June.