Entries open for Macra na Feirme Farm Business and Technology Award

Entries are now open to Irish Agricultural Colleges students for the National Broadband Ireland sponsored Macra na Feirme Farm Business and Technology Award.

The award, which was previously announced in November 2021, forms part of the annual “Ag Challenges Day” involving Ireland’s seven agricultural colleges, with four of the colleges operated by Teagasc and three private colleges. Students in each of the colleges are invited to submit entries on the topic “The Technology I want to deploy on my Farm / Enterprise and Why.”

“We are looking forward to seeing what students can develop in terms of the technology they are interested in. Young farmers have always been at the forefront of innovation and with so many challenges facing farmers, from climate change to food insecurity, these students can demonstrate how the industry can innovate” said John Keane, Macra na Feirme National President.

Peter Hendrick, CEO of National Broadband Ireland, said: “NBI’s partnership with Macra na Feirme is all about developing a long-term relationship with a key national organisation with rural development at its core. The Farm Business and Technology Award that we’re launching is one of a number of initiatives that NBI are working with Macra Na Feirme on. We’re thrilled to be associated with the award and very keen to understand how the students perceive the role of technology in improving farm return through better resource management.”

In teams of four, students, and their individual teachers within each college, have been invited to submit a video presentation focusing on “The Technology I want to deploy on my Farm / Enterprise and Why” while using up to date technologies. A panel of judges will select a winner within each of the seven colleges. Each college winner will receive a prize for the college. The team making this video then go forward to the Macra Challenges Day for a live presentation on the topic. The live presentation will be made to a panel of Agri-technology experts and National Broadband Ireland at the Macra Challenges Day. The overall winner will receive a top prize of €1,000 along and a trophy for their college and a €500 technology grant for the winning college. The final will take place on 27 April 2022 at Gurteen College.