On the AgTech Village stage, the day starts off with a debate on the new skills that are needed as technology becomes more common on farms and in agricultural businesses.

Dr Kevin McDonnell will explain the reasoning behind their new undergraduate degree programme entitled Agricultural Systems Technology. Speakers from IT Tralee and companies that already see skills shortages in the technology areas will debate what skills will be needed.

Next up, Enterprise Ireland will look at the funding that is available to people with good ideas. They will outline the resources in the local enterprise offices and programmes such as the New Frontiers Entrepreneur programme and the High Potential Start-Up programme.

There will be talks from existing companies, such as Claas, on telematics and new electric tractors and ICBF on the use of big data as well as how farmers are using the technology.

The highlight of the day will be the AgTech Summit 2017 start-up show case, where eight businesses will pitch themselves to judges from a variety of high-tech sectors, including Enterprise Ireland and open eir. Two companies will be selected as the “ones to watch” in AgTech Summit 2017.

Each company will have just five minutes to pitch, followed by three minutes of questions from judges and the audience to put them through their paces. Companies picked for the pitch include:

  • • REPROINFO, which created the first patent-protected smart device, CadMan, to provide computer-aided diagnoses of ultrasound video output of bovine reproductive tract examinations. It provides software and data analysis services that address bovine reproductive tract status for dairy and beef cows, maximising the likelihood of conception
  • • Herd Watch, a company set up by Farm Relief Services (FRS), now has, 5,500 farmers using the platform in Ireland and the UK, up 100% year in one year. They have almost 100,000 calves registered to date in 2017, accounting for 15% of all calves. The biggest challenge for the company right now is to find the necessary talent to “join the herd” and help take their platform to the next level, in Ireland and abroad. They are particularly looking for experienced mobile app developers to join the team in their brand new FRS HQ, due to open this June in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

    • There will certainly be plenty of see at the AgTech Summit. High-potential start-ups – many of them funded by Enterprise Ireland – will set out new technologies that have the potential to transform the industry.

    Interestingly as Herdwatch highlighted, the biggest challenge for some is to employ people with the right technology skills. They are hoping to meet people at the Agri Careers Fair who will fill the roles they have to offer.