Farmers in West Cork are ideally placed to take advantage of the future opportunities available in the bio economy.
BY BRIAN MOORE
FARMERS in West Cork are ideally placed to take advantage of the future opportunities available in the bio economy.
This was just one of the topics up for debate at a packed conference at the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen for Argitech Day 2017 this week.
Farmers from across the region gathered to hear speakers from the energy and technology sectors discuss the future needs for their industry in Ireland.
Also up for discussion were the technologies available now and in the future that make working on a farm more efficient and more productive. For example, using biomass to produce electricity on the farm or compressed natural gas to power tractors and other farm machinery or technology designed to ensure the farmer gets the best out of his or her grass management system and how to make the most of the incredible amount of data being generated to increase production and profitability.
Dr Bernadette O’Brien from Teagasc outlined the use of technology in grassland management; Albert Baker, CEO of Danalto, explained the role of sensors in farming and Dermot Curtin from Carbery spoke about how their use of LEAN principles have improved efficiency. ‘There was a lot of information here today and plenty to think about,’ Ludgate chief executive Adrienne Harrington said. ‘We brought together those developing the technology and those using the technology and we looked at the real and proven potential this technology has to improve farming lives.’
