Technology Transforming Irish Agri-Food and Bioeconomy
The final report of the Teagasc Technology Foresight 2035 Project was published at a recent international conference in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, as part of the Technology Foresight Project. Over 200 experts and industry stakeholders were consulted to identify breakthrough technologies which will transform the Irish agri-food and bioeconomy sector by 2035.
Five technology themes have been identified as being the priorities for Irish research and innovation in the coming years:
- Plant and Animal Genomics and Related Technologies.
- Human, Animal and Soil Microbiota.
- Digital Technologies.
- New Technologies for Food Processing.
- Transformation in the Food Value Chain System.
The full report is available at http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/view_publication.aspx?PublicationID=3897
Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle, says: “The pace of new technology adoption is accelerating and progress is happening across a broad spectrum of technologies. New tools will enable the agricultural sector to better tackle the challenges of climate change, and wider sustainability concerns while promising enhanced living standards and quality of life for sectoral players.”
Dr Noel Canley, Teagasc Chairman, coments: “Farms and processing companies are becoming smarter places. Scientific understanding is ever increasing. Knowledge is growing. More data are emerging. These developments have propelled the agri-food sector over the last 20 years. This technology foresight report has identified the key technologies that will shape and influence the farms of 2035.”
The conference heard over 18 presentations from speakers on the global impact of powerful new technologies in transforming economic activity and social relations across all economic sectors including agri-food.
Dr Banning Garrett, Washington-based strategic thinker, writer and entrepreneur, and founding director of Atlantic Council’s Strategic Foresight Initiative delivered the keynote address on ‘Technology will keep changing everything – and will do it faster’.
