Category: News

Innovation Arena Awards

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€65,000 in prizes available to innovative agri companies

The National Ploughing Championships Innovation Arena Awards, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmer’s Journal, has opened for applications. Irish agri companies are invited to showcase their products and innovations at the heart of the NPA Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on September 20th-22nd 2016. Innovation Awards winners will be announced across a range of categories including ‘Agri Engineering’ and ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ and will be eligible to win up to €15,000 as a top prize.  This year, for the first time, applications are encouraged from International entrants competing globally for a specific category award.

The Innovation Arena is the ideal place to showcase ground-breaking agri-related developments, whether they are backyard inventions or professional innovations, to the thousands of visitors the National Ploughing Championships attract each year. It puts Irish agri innovations on a global stage and facilitates networks that have helped individuals and companies to achieve commercial success. Last year’s competition attracted 170 entries; 54 were shortlisted as 2015 finalists and invited to exhibit in the Innovation Arena.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland said “The agri sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy and the Innovation Arena is a key event for Enterprise Ireland where we showcase the top Irish agri innovations. Each year the Innovation Arena is going from strength to strength; last year the number of entries doubled and we expect an equally strong response to the Innovation Arena this year.”

Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships said: “The NPA are delighted to join forces again with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmers Journal for this year’s Innovation Arena. The Innovation Arena provides entrepreneurs and innovators with an excellent platform to showcase their businesses to those that attend the National Ploughing Championships every year”.

The 2016 NPA Innovation Arena prize fund equates to over €65,000 in supports. The overall award winner will receive a top prize worth €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Farmers Journal which includes advertising and PR support, mentoring and a cash prize of €5,000. All finalists will receive €500 worth of advertising vouchers to promote their innovation through the Irish Farmers Journal.

Brown Bread Baking

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CARLOW Myshall Community Hall, Main Street, Myshall Wednesday 22nd June 7.30pm
CAVAN Gallonray House, Maudabawn Monday 13th June 8pm bring bread at 7.30
CLARE Clare Education Centre, Government Buildings, Ennis Monday 20th June Must arrive before 7.45
CORK Oriel House Hotel Ballincollig Thursday 9th June entries between 7 to 7.30 pm
DONEGAL St. Patrick’s National School (Opposite the Hospital) Carndonagh, Co. Donegal. Saturday 25th June 2pm
DUBLIN Gresham Hotel Monday 25th April Bread from 6pm no later than 7pm
GALWAY Community Centre, Joyces Shopping Centre, Barna Road, Knocknacarra Galway Sunday 12th June 3pm
KERRY Aras an Phobaill, Deans Lane , Tralee Saturday 21st May. 1pm
KILDARE Community Centre Naas Monday 30th June entries between 7.15 to 7.45 pm
KILKENNY St Mary s Parish Day Centre, Haughney Green, Jail Road, Kilkenny City Kilkenny Saturday 21st May 10 30 am
LAOIS Clough Community Hall, Clough, Ballacolla Wednesday 22nd June 8pm
LEITRIM Community Centre Killenummery, Dromhaire Tuesday 14th June 7.30pm
LIMERICK Flying Boat Musem, Foynes 29th June 7.30 pm
LONGFORD Ennybegs Community Centre, Ennybegs, Monday 20th June 6.30pm
LOUTH O’Connells GAA hall Castlebellingham Tuesday 21st June 7.30 – 7.50 for non members to leave bread.
MAYO Lough Lanna Lodge, Castlebar (Holiday Village) Tuesday 31st May 8pm
MEATH Dunsaney Hall Wednesday 25th May 8pm
MONGHAN Ardaghey Community Centre, Ardaghey June 21st 8pm
OFFALY Pitch and Putt chlub house Arden Road, Tullamore Wednesday 4th May 8.30pm
ROSCOMMON Hannons Hotel Roscommon Town Saturday 11th June 3pm
SLIGO St Mary’s College Ballisodare Thursday 23rd June 7pm – 7.30
TIPP NORTH Nenagh Community training centre, John’s Place Nenagh Thursday 26th May Drop bread in between 7 and 7.30pm
TIPP SOUTH Halla na Feile, Cashel Thursday, 23rd June Entries from 6.30 pm
WATERFORD Crotty’s Inn, Lemybrien 24th May 7.00pm
WESTMEATH Community centre Castlepollard, Old Castle road, Castlepollard Tuesday 14th June 8pm
WEXFORD Camross community Hall, cross roads Camross. Will hope to have date finalised on Friday 8th April and will confirm on Monday 11th April Monday 27th June 7.45pm
WICKLOW Woodenbridge Hotel, Avoca Monday 13th June 6pm

Scholarship Success

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The National Ploughing Association is delighted that the two farmers, Julius Itiakorit and Solomon Ajak from the Mbale VIVA* Co-op in eastern Uganda whom the NPA are funding to attend the prestigious Baraka Agricultural College in Kenya, are thriving in the experience.   On completion of the course in Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development the farmers will return home to work the land and use their new knowledge to help their local community.

The 16 month course, which commenced in the Baraka Agriculture College during the summer, is educating and training the two students to be efficient, sustainable farmers, trainers of others and facilitators of development in their communities.

Ugandan Scholarship

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Ploughing Association are delighted to be in a position to fund these students to the total cost of €5,000, which is covering their academic course fees,
accommodation, food and travel.  This is an incredibly worthwhile cause and one very close to the NPA’s core ploughing and sustainable farming values.  Both of the students Julius and Solomon, are very impressive and once they have graduated from the course they will be empowered with knowledge and expert techniques to assist themselves and their neighbours.”

According to Mike Burke of VIVA, “the support of the NPA in funding these scholarships is vital in ensuring the sustainability of the project. These two farmers will return to their community and have made a commitment to mentor and train their fellow farmers for five years. They will be a huge educational resource for their community. The co-operation of VIVA and NPA in this unique project (which is part-funded by Irish Aid) is a unique example of solidarity between Irish farmers and vets and their colleagues in the Developing World.”