Three outstanding Offaly businesses shortlisted for prestigious national awards

Three businesses from Offaly have been shortlisted in the national Sustainability and Circular Economy Awards which will take place as part of the 'Finding Common Ground' festival in the RDS in Dublin on Wednesday, April 9. 

The fifth generation Offaly-based family farm Wild Irish Foragers have been shortlisted in the Sustainable Rural Innovation Award category. The business strives to "recreate a taste of the past" through handpicking all of their wild local produce such as berries, flowers and herbs and then handmaking their products in small batches.  

Agri Data Analytics from Daingean have also been shortlisted in the Sustainable Rural Innovation Award category. Agri Data Analytics' innovative Bovine Breathalyser is an emissions monitoring system that measures the methane and CO2 output of cattle. The data provided by the breathalyser can be used to reduce livestock emissions and improve beef and dairy production, tackling the climate crisis head on. 

The FACTORY has been shortlisted in the Circular Economy Awards in the SME Award category. The environment-focused business is a family run enterprise which provides eco print, sign and branding services, with a focus on developing a circular signage aspect to its business where it designs and manufactures signs for an emerging circular economy.

READ NEXT: Ambitious development including full size floodlit all weather pitch planned by soccer club in Offaly

The awards celebrate the individuals involved in farms and businesses who are developing effective and impactful sustainability or circular economy initiatives. The Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Awards seek to highlight the work of such people who are enhancing the economic, environmental and social development of Irish agriculture and rural communities. 

The Circular Economy Awards honours organisations, entrepreneurs and innovators that provide products and services that use renewable materials designed for reuse and recycling to keep them circulating in the economy. Offaly will be represented in each of these categories. 

READ NEXT: Brother of Offaly hurling stars rides first winner at point to point meeting

The awards will be announced on Wednesday, 9 April at the RDS as the 'Finding Common Ground' festival is set to take place over two days.

Scientists, researchers, policymakers, industry professionals and advocates will attend the festival to explore how Ireland can harness its natural resources to identify solutions for challenges within the circular economy. 

Panel discussions and a series of talks will also take place throughout the two days on the latest advancements and challenges in areas such as land use, forestry and the bioeconomy.