Tullow Community School crowned winners of Agri Aware’s and BiOrbic’s Environmental Innovator Programme

Tullow Community School crowned winners of Agri Aware’s and BiOrbic’s Environmental Innovator Programme

The Environmental Innovators programme, delivered by Agri Aware in partnership with BiOrbic, encourages students to explore solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges facing the agri-food sector. This year, 105 schools participated nationwide, with ten finalist groups selected to present their projects to leading agri-food stakeholders at the Peer Day event.

Students from Tullow Community School, Co. Carlow, were crowned National Champions of the Environmental Innovators transition year programme for their project Spray Smart, an innovative spraying suitability website designed to help farmers navigate pesticide and nitrate regulations.

Developed by students Katelyn Dempsey and Conán Mulvihill, the platform impressed judges with its strong practical application, user-friendly design and innovative approach to supporting sustainable farming practices. The website provides farmers with a centralised, accessible source of up-to-date regulatory information, automatically updating in line with evolving EU policies and guidance. By simplifying access to critical environmental compliance information, the project aims to help reduce land pollution and river runoff.

Speaking at the event, BiOrbic Director Prof. Kevin O’Connor highlighted the importance of empowering young people to think creatively about sustainability challenges:

“It is always a pleasure to attend the Peer Day. By applying solutions-based thinking to global challenges, the students have generated blueprints for a circular and bio-based future. Congratulations to all 10 finalists and to the three winning projects.”

BiOrbic congratulates all participating students and teachers for their outstanding creativity, innovation, and commitment to building a more sustainable, circular and bio-based future.