New €4.8 million AgTech facility opened at Lyons Farm

Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney, has officially opened the University College Dublin (UCD) Bimeda Herd Health Hub and AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare. The €4.8 million state-of-the-art facility, funded by Enterprise Ireland, UCD, and a philanthropic donation from Bimeda, is aimed at providing cutting-edge research and technology access for thousands of graduate and postgraduate students.

The UCD Bimeda Herd Health Hub within the fully functioning 250ha farm focuses on dairy herd health education, research, and consultancy at a national level. The AgTechUCD Innovation Centre aims to support early-stage start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri, agtech, agrifood, and veterinary sectors with disruptive innovations.

Minister Coveney emphasized the excitement and growth potential in the food sector and technology related to it, highlighting its pervasive impact across the country. He stressed the importance of promoting and accelerating entrepreneurship and innovation in these sectors, encouraging young and ambitious individuals to pursue careers in agtech, agrifood, and related fields. The facility includes flexible lab spaces, meeting rooms, offices, and an exhibition space to facilitate research, development, and collaboration in these sectors.