2026 Open Day

On 2nd July, in conjunction with Technological University of the Shannon, Golden Vale Research  was delighted to host our 2026 Open Day!

We welcomed over 50 people to our research farm on a beautiful summers day.  The theme was “Enhancing agricultural environmental, financial and social sustainability”. This was chosen because sustainability has become a “buzz word” without proper definition. At GVR, we believe it should be defined into these three pillars as our sector has been guilty of not having a broad view of agriculture, leading to unintended impacts.

The Open Day consisted of:

- discussion of our grass and arable SOILCRATES EU gypsum and microbial biostimulants research project which uses FuturAg’s products
- soil health practical workshop held by Lena Madden and Pablo Tovar Ballen
- disseminating our slurry and digestate amendment with biochar tank and spring barley field trials (with our partners Irish Distillers)
- showcasing our heritage wheat and barley trials (funded by the Conservation of Genetic Materials research grant by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
- conducting a blind bread taste test (heritage bread won)
- Aerial Ag Ireland performing a demonstration of their multi-spectral prescription mapping and drone spraying
- Lishia Teh performed a rapid and accurate feedstuff analysis using RialtoLabs QuickSafe device
- panel discussion with Mary Oakley, Maurice Deasy and Eamon Walsh (The Financial Farmer on social media)

The panel discussion was very interesting; three articulate and enraging speakers with different but fascinating opinions on agriculture and rural society. They encouraged guests to be proud of farming and to see their farms in new lights, especially in terms of succession.

Golden Vale Research's core principles is to make research accessible to farmers and communities to harness their knowledge, experience and innovative thinking for practical solutions to enhance rural life and the adaptation of cutting-edge science. It was inspiring to meet so many people on the same page and it reinforces GVR’s place in Ireland’s R&D ecosystem. 

Thanks to everyone who came, all the above and also Peadar Casey, TUS Sustainable Development Research Institute (SDRI),  Leslie Dwyer of FuturAg,  Joe McMahon (RialtoLabs),  Ciara Egan,  Brian Ogilvie, Daniel O'Reilly and Farrell Alderton (Aerial Ag Ireland), Agriland Media, Emilys Delicatessen, Sarah Davidson and those who helped prepare for the day.

Check out some photos from the day below!
“Ní neart go cur le chéile!”