Enterprise Ireland is back at Fieldays for 2021, showcasing some of the country's most exciting agricultural technology.
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government's trade and innovation agency.
It was the agency's 15th consecutive year in attendance at Fieldays and the first in-person event it had attended in 18 months.
This year the agency's had a "Ready for a Green Future" theme, with a focus on the climate agenda.
As the world emerged from Covid-19 there was a need to build back better, prioritise sustainability and tackle the many environmental challenges faced to deliver a green recovery, the agency said.
While the New Zealand Government was mandating and supporting integrated farm planning to create a cleaner, carbon-neutral sector; Ireland was also investing in developing agricultural technology that would improve efficiency and reduce waste, as part of its race to reach zero emissions.
The Enterprise Ireland stand. Photo / Supplied
Ireland has been ranked fifth in the (MIT Technology Review) Green Future Index 2021, an index of 76 countries on their progress and commitment towards building a low carbon future.
The Index measured the degree to which economies were turning toward clean energy industry, agriculture, and society through investment in renewables, innovation, and green finance. New Zealand is currently ranked eighth.
This year at Fieldays, Enterprise Ireland will be at Stand D67 to D73.
Enterprise Ireland Exhibitors 2021
Abbey Machinery
Abbey Machinery. Photo / Supplied
Being one of Ireland's oldest agricultural engineering companies, doesn't stop Abbey Machinery from being focused on the future—and they believed the future is green.
The company was hard at work, developing machines that supported efficiency and sustainability on the farm.
While their equipment was improving the environment by significantly reducing emissions, it was also helping to reduce on-farm costs, with a reduction in the requirement for artificial fertiliser.
In 1992, Abbey Machinery became the first agricultural manufacturer in Ireland to introduce Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS).
Today their sustainable applicators reduce the surface area of the slurry by placing it in narrow bands on the grass, resulting in a 60 per cent reduction in ammonia losses.
Their newest spreaders were wider, and not only reduced emissions, but also cut spread time by 30 per cent - allowing farmers to complete the same amount of work with less fuel and less soil compaction.
Dairymaster
Dairymaster Moo Monitor. Photo / Supplied
Dairymaster has formed strong research and development partnerships with universities, working with PhD students, scientists, and engineers with backgrounds in embedded electronics, sensor technology, software development and data analytics to develop autonomous systems to ease the workload on the dairy farm and increase sustainable practices.
From rotary milking parlours, to energy efficient cooling systems and wearable herd health and fertility monitoring systems, the 54-year-old company provided real-time data analytics to help farmers make the right management decisions for the herd.
KEENAN
KEENAN. Photo / Supplied
This innovative Irish company is spearheading new agricultural technologies and promoting the adoption of improved farm management practices.
As part of the Alltech Group, KEENAN subscribed to its parent company's vision for a Planet of Plenty. This mantra promoted partnerships throughout the global supply chain, empowering everyone to work together toward a more sustainable future.
KEENAN's innovative diet feeder technology is paving the way for farms of all sizes to become part of a circular economy as they maximise efficiency, eliminate waste, and significantly reduce emissions.
In 2019, the KEENAN MechFiber diet feeder was validated by Carbon Trust as the first environmentally sustainable diet feeder in the world. It is estimated that when an average herd receives a ration mixed by a KEENAN diet feeder, a reduction of 25 per cent less methane emissions can occur.
Now that the company had perfected animal nutrition, KEENAN's turning its attention to automation, and was currently working to introduce on-farm robotics.
Winner of the International Innovation Award at the 2020 Fieldays Innovations, MagGrow has developed a patented, proprietary technology that significantly reduces waste associated with conventional pesticide spray applications, delivering important plant protection products where they matter the most.
The Judging Panel of the International Innovation Award said MagGrow "impressed us with strong science, backing an innovative solution, that reduces chemical and water usage, whilst improving efficacy in spraying applications."
"We particularly appreciated the deep understanding of both science and farming applied in an innovation that can improve both environmental and commercial outcomes globally," the judges said.
MagGrow's magnetic-assisted agricultural spraying technology reduced spray drift by more than 70 per cent, delivered superior crop and weed coverage (by 20 per cent+) and reduced water usage by up to 50 per cent.
The Tailpainter tool kit helped farmers achieve their block breeding goals by implementing effective heat detection practices, along with correct timing of AI, and best practice in nutrition management.
Now widely available in New Zealand, Agrify Solutions Ltd was launching a non-toxic, water-based tail paint range, known as Daisy Paint, during Fieldays.
Available in four colours, Dairy Paint answered a growing demand for high quality paint formulated for safe ease of use, and with bright pigment for easy reading.
