Reap Interactive named ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards

• Samco Agricultural ManufacturingLtd wins ‘Innovation Arena Champion Award’
• EASYFIX named as new ‘Green Impact Award’ winner
• Nine agritech companies receive ‘Certificates of Achievement for Innovation’

Reap Interactive has been named as ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ in Enterprise Ireland’s 2024 Innovation Arena Awards at the National Ploughing Championships.

Reap Interactive won the €10,000 prize for their innovation BovinePlus after being named as ‘Start-Ip Innovator of the Year’ by a panel of judges. This solution aims to revolutionise farming by tracking each animal individually, utilising AI and image analysis to provide real-time data on weight, health, and water intake, optimising profitability by pinpointing issues such as underperforming animals and enhancing feed efficiency. This offers insights which can boost profitability and efficiencies, and support sustainable livestock management.

The Enterprise Ireland ‘Innovation Arena Champion Award’, for established companies with a focus on scaling and innovation, Samco Manufacturing Ltd for their innovation, a new application system and mulch film designed around establishing earlier planting and growth of potatoes, and this will ultimately enable earlier harvesting and entry to the market where growers will have a greater price premium.

While the new ‘Green Impact Award’, for a company whose innovation is focused on sustaining the development of food and farming for future generations to come, went to went to EASYFIX.  The company is now focused on reducing ammonia and methane emissions in slurry storage systems, using unique technology that stimulates bacterial growth which reduces ammonia and methane emissions in storage. Their new technology system works by delivering a low electrical current that stimulates the growth of bacteria in storage which reduces emissions. 

A total of nine Irish agri innovators were finalists in this year’s Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards, and participated in a live pitching competition in front a panel of judges and an audience at the National Ploughing Championships this afternoon.

The other finalists who pitched for the ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year Award’ this afternoon were Cotter Agritech, and RT Sales Ltd.  

Grassland Agro and Brandon Bioscience were also finalists for the ‘Green Impact Award’, while Dairymaster, and Mastek were the other two companies shortlisted for the Innovation Arena Champion Award.

A number of other companies who entered this year’s competition were also recognised today with a ‘Certificate of Achievement for Innovation’, for having received a minimum qualifying score for their entry.  These companies were HerdSync, Herdwatch, Horse Sport Ireland, KME, M-TEC, MyGug, Precision Microbes, Tigercomb and Watt Footprint.

The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena is an annual must-see exhibition platform, hosted in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA), giving 50 Irish-owned agritech companies, researchers and academia the opportunity to showcase their products and solutions to thousands of visitors at one of Europe’s largest outdoor events.

A dosing gun designed to reduce medicine usage, a smart weighing scales which utilises AI and image analysis to analyse animal performance and growth, and solutions focused on reducing methane emissions are just some of the innovations in this year’s Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena.

This year’s Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena has a focus on ‘Innovations for Future Generations’, and is showcasing innovators with pioneering solutions which will deliver efficiencies in animal science and technology, agri-engineering, digital technologies, animal health and nutrition, sustainability and climate action, and farm health and safety.

The Irish agritech sector employs more than 4,700 people here, and Enterprise Ireland supports approximately 130 companies who are working in a number of areas, including developing smart farming solutions, farm equipment, livestock handling and housing, crop cultivation and protection, and animal health and nutrition.  These Irish-owned companies generated sales of almost €1.6bn in 2023, with exports accounting for €1bn.  

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish entrepreneurs to start, grow and scale globally, and a hugely important element of the Innovation Arena is the attendance of international buyers.  This year, as part of our programme of activity at the National Ploughing Championships, 80 international agritech buyers from 20 global markets will visit the Innovation Arena to meet and engage with the companies exhibiting.

Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said: “Innovation and the need to be agile has never been more important for the agricultural sector and the Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships can support agritech companies to grow, scale and develop.  I would like to commend this year’s participants in this landmark exhibition platform and thank them for their contribution towards futureproofing this sector for generations to come.”

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Irish agri innovators, including those exhibiting in this year’s Innovation Arena, are truly shaping the sector globally.  It is their innovations and solutions which are driving efficiencies, and helping to address global challenges by meeting growing demands for food, safeguarding our planet for future generations and ensuring farm families have good livings. We believe that Irish-owned enterprises can, over time, be the prime driver of the Irish economy, and Irish agritech companies and farm families will have an important role to play in that shared ambition.  I would like to thank our partners in the NPA, and all of the participants in this year’s Innovation Arena, and wish them a fruitful experience over the coming days.”

Congratulating all the finalists and exhibitors in this year’s Innovation Arena, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director, NPA, said: “The Innovation Arena continues to be a popular attraction on site every year, with visitors, buyers and members of the public all keen to learn and see the cutting-edge solutions for Irish agritech companies.  The NPA is delighted to host the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena again at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, and I want to congratulate all of today’s winners and wish them all the best for the future on this great achievement.”

James Maloney, Innovation Arena Manager, Enterprise Ireland, said:  “This year really highlighted how far Irish companies are moving towards digital and sustainable farming solutions.  The quality of the innovations that were showcased today, by all the companies participating in this year’s Innovation Arena, will give the sector the confidence to compete for international business in the coming years.” 

The winners were announced by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke at an awards ceremony this afternoon following the live pitching event.

A full list of all the companies participating in this year’s Innovation Arena can be found here.

The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena, hosting 50 agritech exhibitors, is located at Block 3, Row 23, Stand 557 at the National Ploughing Championships.

ENDS

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