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Pictured attending the 2026 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly are the 12 participants who have commenced the third FAST-IP programme delivered by UCD in partnership with Teagasc. Photo: Gareth Chaney.
FAST-IP, a University College Dublin and Teagasc initiative, is a 12-month in-person specialist programme, aimed at mid-career professionals. It provides participants with the skills necessary to evaluate, select and validate ideas for new products and services in the agri-food sector, and to accelerate the commercialisation pathway of these ideas.
FAST-IP is delivered by the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering and NovaUCD in partnership with Teagasc at the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare, under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme which is managed by Enterprise Ireland.
Three teams (Agriwave, BiCO and Mehal) which completed the inaugural FAST-IP programme have recently secured a total of €1.9m in commercialisation funding from Enterprise Ireland to progress the translation of their projects into commercially viable start-ups over the next two years. Twenty-one participants have completed the two FAST-IP programmes delivered to date. FAST-IP, aligned with Ireland’s national agri-food strategy, Food Vision 2030, aims to support establishing Ireland as a leader in sustainable food systems by balancing climate-smart agriculture, environmental and economic sustainability, and innovation.
Sasha Dunne, who recently completed the second FAST-IP programme said: “The last 12 months has been an incredible journey and I am excited for the next chapter with my Alma Grana team as we progress our innovative solution to address the major challenge and impact of grassweeds in wheat production. I wish the participants in the third programme all the very best, they have an intense but very exciting and rewarding year ahead.”
FAST-IP is accredited by UCD at Level 9 on the National Qualifications Framework and participants who complete the programme will be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Agrifood Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Applications for the fourth (2027/28) FAST-IP programme will open in early 2027.