Cultivating a more sustainable balance between food production and the environment
Agri Aware returned to the Phoenix Park for Bord Bia’s Bloom, with their focus on cultivating a more sustainable balance between food production and the environment.
Agri Aware returned to the Phoenix Park for Bord Bia’s Bloom, with their focus on cultivating a more sustainable balance between food production and the environment.
This theme was at the fore of the newly designed and modernised Agri Aware farmyard, supported by Bord Bia, at the 100,000 plus visitors event.
The farmyard showcased key elements of Irish farming, such as livestock, machinery, grassland and hedgerows, giving visitors an insight into how Irish farmers are innovating within each aspect to improve the sustainability of Irish agriculture and food production.
From water recycling to efficient slurry management, to cultivating multi-species grasslands and nurturing hedgerows, the initiatives showcased at the Agri Aware farmyard displayed the commitment of Irish farmers to continuous improvement.
Through these collective actions, Irish farmers are working to further harmonise agricultural practices with nature and improve their contribution to the preservation and development of local habitats and the natural ecosystem.
Activities at the farmyard included a schedule of sheep shearing and milking demonstrations, with educational talks on the livestock on show that brought to life what life on the farm is like and the work farmers do every day to bring quality food to our tables.
Furthermore, panel discussions were a new key element of the farmyard this year, bringing industry experts to share their knowledge of research, innovation and insights from farms as to how Irish farmers are producing quality food in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
Agri Aware Executive Director Marcus O’Halloran said: “Irish agriculture continues to be met with change through policy and the continuous improvement in research, be it in the form of livestock and crop genetics or mechanisation.
“At Agri Aware our mission is to communicate the work that is being done on Irish farms to continually improve and become more sustainable, both from a production and environmental point of view through these advancements."
Mr O'Halloran said this year’s farmyard at Bloom told that story to enhance agricultural knowledge and literacy "among our target audience, the consumers".
