Full coverage: Ag-tech

The Carlow-based university spin-out harnessing bacteria to clean up polluted soils has just changed its name to Talam Biotech. Behind the scenes, the company has undergone a lot more than rebranding.

When you look at the headline reports, global investments in the food and ag-tech sector tell a very positive story but the experience for many Irish start-ups in this space reflects a very different narrative.

MicroSynbiotiX is merging with Sundew, a like-minded aquaculture technology company aiming to protect farmed fish from disease with minimal environmental impact. A Dublin-based VC is funding the enlarged business.

Sean Smith, the co-founder of Micron Agritech, talks about automating the process of parasite testing for farmers, new EU legislation, and raising €1.5m in further funding ahead of the start-up’s official launch in 2022.

Four years ago, Dr Fiona Edwards Murphy went straight from her studies to founding a connected beehive start-up, ApisProtect. Last month, she featured on Forbes’s 30 under 30 list. After launching in the US in the middle of the pandemic, her product is now launching on the European market.

The Belfast-based livestock nutrition company is investing massively in its new global research and development centre in Co Meath, where it hopes to produce carbon-neutral beef and dairy by 2025. But the lenders behind a €118m refinancing package are keeping a close watch as its existing business faces the challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. To provide guarantees, Owen Brennan’s group has been reorganising.

Live streams, smartphone bids and USB gavels became features of livestock sales as soon as the Covid-19 lockdown closed marts to the public. Technology providers are vying for this business, which appears to be here to stay.

Irish entrepreneurs have attracted attention – and capital – in the rush to revolutionise agriculture with technology. Here are some of those who are converting ideas into solid investment, and why their backers decided to take the plunge.

Ag-tech entrepreneur Aidan Connolly looks to the Irish start-up scene for answers to the questions facing cattle farming and beef processing.