The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2017 - Issue 53 | Page 19

Farm News
IRISH AGRI EXPORTS TO THE UK EXCEED
€44M AS DISRUPTORS GAIN MOMENTUM
» » WITH THE INTERNET OF
Things moving into agri-tech,
‘smart farming’ is set to play
a vital role in boosting UK
agricultural growth post-Brexit
With global population set to
top 10 billion by 2050, the UN
says agricultural output needs
to rise by 70%, and so, smart
farming is on the rise. Sean
Long, Senior Market Adviser at
Enterprise Ireland examines how
the Irish Government agency
aims to boost UK-Irish trade
relations and support farmers to
produce, sell and export more
than ever before.
Irish agricultural exports to the
UK exceeded €44m in 2016 in
response to growing demand
for cutting-edge agricultural
technology. Enterprise Ireland, the
Irish Government agency, aims to
boost UK-Irish trade relations and
support farmers to produce, sell
and export more than ever before.
Providing funding and support
has allowed client companies
to develop innovative solutions
from the laboratory through to the
farm, including a number of ‘smart
farming’ solutions.
With Irish agricultural exports
exceeding €44m in 2016,
and several Irish companies
exporting on a global scale, it
is clear collaboration between
the UK and Ireland will continue
to be key, despite current
Brexit uncertainty. In particular,
Enterprise Ireland expects to
see a strong spike in demand
for innovative technology, with a
number of Irish disruptors gaining
momentum in the UK market.
Leaders in this space range from
MagGrow, a magnetic spraying
technology that helps farmers
grow more by using less, to
HerdWatch, the number one farm
management app.
The agricultural sector is
changing rapidly and, with stats
showing that food production
must increase by 70% by 2050 to
feed the 9.6bn people predicted
to inhabit the planet[1], increasing
the quantity and quality of
agricultural production is
paramount. One way to achieve
this is through making farms
more “intelligent” and more
connected through ‘precision
agriculture’.
Recognising the need to
encourage, grow and develop
the next generation of Irish agri-
business companies and enable
them to compete on a global
scale, Enterprise Ireland supports
innovative agri businesses
through a series of initiatives,
including:
• The Competitive Feasibilil