Maynooth University to host ‘New approaches in sustainable agriculture’ workshop today
Gerry Lacey, professor of electronic engineering, Maynooth University and Graham Caulwell, head of sustainability & compliance, Irish Distillers, Maynooth University pictured L-R at Maynooth University's Robot Farm, as Irish Distillers and Maynooth University announced a new partnership on an experimental robotics project to support regenerative farming practices within the tillage sector
Through a two-year bursary, Irish Distillers will support a research team at Maynooth University on a journey to develop an efficient and economically viable solution
Print31 October 2024
Maynooth University will host a workshop today, Thursday 31 October for Industry, Government and Research stakeholders titled: ‘New approaches in Sustainable Agriculture’.
Speakers will include Dr Jim McBride, CTO Otherlab USA, Karl Walsh from DAFM, Researchers across Biology, Robotics AI and Business as well as panellists from Wakeup Capital, 2050 Accelerator, industry and farming groups.
During the event, the speakers will discuss ‘new approaches and collaborations in sustainable agriculture and energy production’.
Partnership
Irish Distillers and Maynooth University Ireland are partnering on a pilot research project to ‘develop an autonomous regenerative agriculture platform through robotics and sensing solutions.’
Through a two-year bursary, Irish Distillers noted that it will support a research team at Maynooth University on a journey to develop an efficient and economically viable solution, using robotics, to support regenerative agriculture and improve the environmental impact of cereal crop production.
According to the group, the project will use ‘mobile farming robots, sensing solutions and vertical solar panels to monitor and manage cereal cultivation, with the aim of optimising grain yields and resource utilisation while delivering a resilient ecosystem that nurtures soil health, biodiversity, and long-term environmental vitality’.
Research project
As part of this research project, test plots at the Maynooth University Robot Farm were planted this Spring with a variety of crops and monitored regularly throughout the summer with 3D cameras and soil testing before being harvested in Autumn.
The robotics team has developed new imaging techniques that use both the shape and colour of the plants leaves to automatically determine plant health.
Graham Caulwell, head of sustainability & compliance, Irish Distillers, commented: “With the integration of robotics, this pioneering project aims to support regenerative agriculture while enhancing efficiency.
“This partnership is more than a commercial alliance; it is the fusion of shared visions for a sustainable future.”
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