Three Offaly organisations shortlisted in RDS Sustainability and Circular Economy Awards
Three organisations in County Offaly have been shortlisted for prestigious RDS Awards taking place on Wednesday 9th April as part of the ‘Finding Common Ground’ festival in the RDS in Dublin. The awards look to celebrate the people behind farms and businesses that are developing effective and impactful sustainability or circular economy initiatives.
The awards include both the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Awards, which highlight the work of individuals, farm families and organisations who are enhancing the economic, environmental and social development of Irish agriculture and rural communities, and the Circular Economy Awards, which celebrate organisations, entrepreneurs and innovators providing products and services that use renewable materials and are designed for reuse and recycling to keep them circulating in the economy.
The three organisations include:
Wild Irish Foragers
Wild Irish Foragers – shortlisted for the RDS Sustainability Awards in the Sustainable Rural Innovation Award category. A 5th generation family farm in Co. Offaly, Wild Irish Foragers strives to recreate a taste of the past by handpicking all their wild berries, flowers and herbs, and handmaking their products in small batches.
Agri Data Analytics
Agri Data Analytics – shortlisted for the RDS Sustainability Awards in the Sustainable Rural Innovation Award category. Located in Daingean, Co. Offaly, Agri Data Analytics is tackling the climate crisis with the Bovine Breathalyser, an emissions monitoring system that measures the methane and CO2 output of cattle, which provides data that is used to reduce livestock emissions and improve beef and dairy production.
The FACTORY
The FACTORY, Fivealley Printing – shortlisted for the RDS Circular Economy Awards in the SME Award category. The FACTORY is an environment-focused family enterprise that 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.
The ‘Finding Common Ground’ festival, which takes place over two days in the RDS in Ballsbridge, is being delivered as one of the RDS Foundation social impact programmes. It will bring together scientists, researchers, policymakers, industry professionals, practitioners, advocates and RDS Members to explore how Ireland can harness the benefits of our natural resources and the circular economy with a view to creating increased awareness, education and identification of solutions.
A series of talks and panel discussions will focus on the latest advancements and challenges in areas such as land use, forestry and the bioeconomy. The broad programme will also explore topics such as decarbonising construction, how to use the arts to engage with environmental societal change and primary science education.
The awards will be announced on Wednesday April 9th at the RDS, Dublin.
About RDS
RDS, the organisation that drives positive change for Ireland, is a philanthropic organisation operating in a membership context to make Ireland a better place for all.
The purpose of the RDS is to inspire, enable and empower positive change. The RDS Foundation delivers programmes, bursaries and activities on an all-island basis across five priorities including Agriculture, the Arts, Enterprise, Equestrianism, Science and Technology.
All events which take place at the RDS venue create the resources to support the work of the RDS Foundation.
