Bovine Breathalyser company selected for AgTechUCD’s programme
Among the participating start-ups are Agri Data Analytics Ireland, which is developing the Bovine Breathalyser, a non-invasive machine that measures enteric methane emissions from ruminants. The Co. Offaly company, founded by Jack Pilkington and Alan O’Donovan, was recently named winner of the AgTechUCD Start-up Award as part of the 2023 Innovation Arena competition, hosted by Enterprise Ireland with the National Ploughing Association.
Another company, Pitseal, founded by Marion Cantillon and based in Co. Limerick, offers a game-changing, biofilm spray, comprising of unique strains of seaweed and nutrients, that forms an airtight, water-repellent seal over silage pits, eliminating the need for plastic sheeting and weights. The other participating start-ups, profiled below, are: Burpeez, Moonsyst, PolyBo, Prepsheets, Spread It and Trojan Track.
Start-up problem-solvers
Burpeez is developing an edible netwrap for silage bales. Once the outer bale plastic has been removed, the netwrapped silage bale can be safely fed to ruminant animals. The netwrap will be fortified with postponed-release additives to decrease the rate of burping in cattle; reducing methane released during digestion. The founder of Burpeez, based in Co. Clare, is Paul Connellan.
Moonsyst, an Agri-IoT, has developed a Smart Rumen Bolus system. The smart bolus is orally administered by a farmer or veterinary and remains in the cow’s rumen. It is designed to alert dairy and beef farmers to any health, calving and breeding events on farm, all easily readable on a mobile phone and web application. The co-founder of Moonsyst, based in Co. Cork, is Desmond Savage.
PolyBo offers a unique bolus platform technology. Being composed of FDA-approved bioresorbable polymers, the system allows for a tailorable release-rated of included ingredients, such as trace elements or vitamins, vital for ruminant livestock. The co-founders of PolyBo, based in Co. Westmeath, are Declan Colbert and Luke Geever.
Prepsheets streamlines hospitality operations, consolidating ingredients and recipes into one platform. This tool centralises supplier data, providing chefs with precise portion costs, weights, calories, and nutrients, eliminating waste, increasing profits and reducing environmental impact. The co-founders of Prepsheets, based in Dublin, are Brian Beattie and Tara Beattie.
Spread It is a plastic moulded shoe attachment that fits onto the end of each dribble bar pipe on a low emission slurry spreader to improve the spreading coverage of the slurry and minimise and potential slurry caking. The co-founders of Spread It, based in Co. Galway, are Tom Turley and Stephen McKeown.
Trojan Track is addressing a key problem in equine care, unnoticed injuries. By combining biomechanical analysis with cutting-edge deep neural network technology, Trojan Track provides quick and accurate analysis of a horse’s movement and performance, using just a smartphone camera and a tripod. The founder of Trojan Track, based in Co. Kildare, is Stephen O’Dwyer.
The 2023 AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, which has just commenced, is an intensive 12-week hybrid programme, tailored to address the particular needs and challenges facing start-ups in the ag-tech, agri-food and equine sectors. The programme is focussed on fast tracking the business development and leadership skills of participants and to provide them with the support and guidance needed to accelerate their start-ups in Ireland and on the global stage.
Based at the UCD Lyons Farm, AgTechUCD offers the first and only on-farm workspace hub to promote and accelerate agri-businesses and start-ups. AgTechUCD provides access to on-farm experimental facilities, allowing testing and trialling of products and services in a real-world environment. Start-ups also have preferred access to UCD food processing facilities, access to venture capital and business angel networks, mentoring, corporate partners, office and flexible lab spaces.
The programme includes dedicated business development workshops and investor readiness training, mentoring from industry experts and business advisors, guest speakers and facilitated introductions to AgTechUCD’s venture capital and business angel networks.
The in-person workshops will take place in the new AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare. This new facility which includes flexible lab spaces, meeting rooms, offices and an exhibition and seminar space was just recently opened.
Leo McGrane, centre manager, AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, said: “We are looking forward to the next 12 weeks as we focus on supporting the commercial development of the participating start-ups as they further develop their disruptive ag-tech, agri-food and equine-tech innovations with global potential. During the programme we will also be supporting the participating cohort to help them to enhance their visibility in the marketplace, attract customers and investors and forge new partnerships in Ireland and further afield.” This third AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme will conclude next January when participating start-ups will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors.