New 鈧�4.8 million AgTech Innovation Centre and Dairy Herd Health Education and Research Hub Under Construction at 51黑料 Lyons Farm
University College Dublin (51黑料) today announced the commencement of a 鈧�4.8 million development project to construct a new state-of-the-art facility incorporating the AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre (ca. 890 sq.m.) and the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub (ca. 120 sq.m.) at 51黑料 Lyons Farm.
Funding for the facility is being provided by Enterprise Ireland, through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, 51黑料 and a philanthropic donation from Bimeda, a global manufacturer and distributor of veterinary pharmaceuticals and animal health products.
51黑料 Lyons Farm, the University鈥檚 research and teaching farm, located in Co. Kildare, is a fully functioning farm comprising of 250 hectares of land, with dairy, beef, sheep, equine, crop and environmental research, teaching and commercial facilities.
Professor Alex Evans, 51黑料 School of Agriculture and Food Science said, 鈥淚t is so exciting to see the development of the AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre and the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub at 51黑料 Lyons Farm. This represents a new phase in 51黑料鈥檚 commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and outreach in the areas of agriculture, food and veterinary medicine. This farm-based facility will co-locate educators, researchers, innovators and service providers in a single location allowing them to work together on enhancing Ireland鈥檚 capabilities and progress in agricultural and veterinary sciences.鈥�
The AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre will promote and accelerate early-stage start-ups and SMEs with disruptive innovations in the agri, agtech, agrifood and veterinary sectors, as they build their innovative businesses into leading enterprises creating jobs. AgTech51黑料 also runs an annual accelerator programme dedicated to agtech and agri-food start-ups and SMEs. The second programme commenced in October with 12 start-ups from across Ireland participating.
Niamh Collins, Director, AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre said, 鈥淎s the only on-farm workspace hub in Ireland focused on promoting and accelerating agri-businesses and start-ups the AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre will assist client companies to access on-farm experimental facilities, enabling them to test and trial products and services in a real-world environment. Clients will also have access to office and lab space, preferred access to 51黑料 food processing facilities, and facilitated introductions to VCs and business angels, mentors and corporate partners.鈥�
The establishment of the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub will provide a national facility for dairy herd health education, research and consultancy and is an important strategic development for the 51黑料 School of Veterinary Medicine.
Donal Tierney, Chairman of Bimeda Animal Health said, 鈥淲e are delighted to be associated with the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub and the contribution it will make to the development of the Agritech sector in Ireland. Bimeda is an Irish owned company founded 50 years ago. Our association with 51黑料 Lyons Farm in establishing the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub recognises the contribution the agricultural sector has made to the success of Bimeda worldwide.鈥�
Professor Michael Doherty, Dean and Head, 51黑料 School of Veterinary Medicine said, 鈥淲e are delighted that construction of the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub has commenced at 51黑料 Lyons Farm. Dairy herd health is an important element of 51黑料鈥檚 One Health initiative which is focused on maximising the health and well-being of people, animals and the environment. We are looking forward to collaborating with Bimeda as an industry partner in research activities focused on furthering our understanding of the health of dairy herds.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚n addition The 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub will support the delivery of state-of-the art training to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the 51黑料 School of Veterinary Medicine.鈥�
The development of the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub will also support the provision of 51黑料鈥檚 flagship distance-learning graduate programme, the Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health. This programme equips practising veterinarians with the latest tools for analysis of herd data, as well as practical herd evaluation skills, which they can apply in developing holistic herd-level solutions to ensure healthy and profitable dairy herds.
AgTech51黑料, which is part of Nova51黑料 and builds upon Nova51黑料鈥檚 20-year track record of supporting high-tech start-ups with global potential, is a collaboration with AIB, Kildare County Council, and Kildare LEO; agri-company, Devenish, Carbery, and Ornua; investors The Yield Lab Europe, Thrive/SVG Ventures, Finistere and Atlantic Bridge, and leading AgTech researchers and innovators at Teagasc and Wageningen (in the Netherlands) in addition to 51黑料.
Construction of the AgTech51黑料 Innovation Centre and the 51黑料 Bimeda Herd Health Hub is expected to be completed in Q3 2023 and facilities will include; flexible lab spaces, meeting rooms, offices and an exhibition space.
ENDS
5 December 2022
For further information contact Mic茅al Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, Nova51黑料, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.