The two winners of the Organic Trust Bursary Awards 2026 have been announced in conjunction with the department of land sciences at South East Technological University (SETU).

Liam Gilligan from Co Sligo and James Conway from Co Cavan have been selected as the recipients of this year’s Organic Trust bursary award.

The bursary scheme aims to support students as they pursue post-graduate studies in organic agriculture and related disciplines at SETU.

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Liam Gilligan

Liam Gilligan works on the family organic farm on Coney Island, Co Sligo.

Gilligan completed his BSc degree in agriculture at ATU Donegal in 2025.

He also works with Knocknarea Farm, a local regenerative market garden and farm shop and is an Organic Trust ambassador.

He is looking forward to sharing knowledge gained in his post-graduate studies with the department of land sciences at SETU.

“I am looking forward to starting the masters programme at SETU and very excited to learn the theory behind organic agricultural and horticultural practices,” Gilligan said.

James Conway

James Conway comes from Lisnahederna, Virginia, Co Cavan.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in materials and architectural technology with teacher education from the University of Limerick in 2014 and more recently completed his agriculture green cert qualification at the Salesian College in Pallaskenry in Limerick, graduating in July 2023.

Conway is self-employed as the managing director of Truck Boards Ireland, focused on making LED signage for trucks and transport vehicles.

On the home farm, Conway focuses on organic suckler beef production and the arable enterprise growing oats on contract for Flahavan's in Kilmacthomas.

“I hope to use the learning taken from the MSc in organic and biological agriculture to grow the integration of my organic enterprises at home, but also to look at how this could help develop organic businesses on other farms regionally and nationally,” he said.

Organic education

At the announcement of the new bursary, Organic Trust CEO Stephen Connolly said the organisation was delighted to support the development of postgraduate education in organic agriculture.

“We are really looking forward to this exciting collaboration with the organic postgraduate programme in the department of land sciences at SETU.

"Supporting students who are committed to organic agriculture is an important investment in the future of the sector and we are delighted to play a part in helping them advance their studies and careers,” Connolly said.

Head of the department of land sciences at SETU Eleanor Kent said she was delighted with the growth and development of the programme in recent years.

“This is in large part due to the encouragement and support of our partners across the organic sector. The Organic Trust, organic certification bodies, the National Organic Training Skillnet and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s organic unit at Johnstown Castle have all played an important role in supporting the development of organic education and training,” she said.