The third ORIGINN Study Visit, held in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, took place from June 11-13, 2024. The theme in focus was the Green Economy & Blue Economy and Sustainability, and the event gathered key stakeholders to discuss the innovative practices in this area in the four midland counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath.

The meeting, which took place in the town of Athlone on the River Shannon, began on June 11th with a welcome address by Clare Bannon, Acting Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA). The Acting Director spoke of the great potential of this rural part of the region and of the importance of projects like ORIGINN to enable collaboration in policy-development for rural transformation through innovation.

Participants then received project updates from the lead partner before visiting Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery in County Laois. A barley farm in the Walsh-Kemmis family for 13 generations, Ballykilcavan is a prime example of innovation and diversification on a traditional family farm, having developed an award-winning brewery on-site in recent years. They emphasise sustainability and circularity in their practices, and the project partners were interested to learn about the enabling policies in the region that facilitated the development of the brewery business.

The second day featured presentations from key figures in the field. Dr. Ian Archer, CEO of BioConnect, started the session with a presentation on the development of the bioeconomy in Ireland, followed by Barry Caslin, an Energy and Rural Development Specialist from Teagasc, who highlighted innovative approaches for sustainability in the farming sector. After a coffee break, Deirdre Kennedy, a Food Technologist from Teagasc, discussed advancements in food technology and policy supports for farmers developing food and drinks businesses.

In the afternoon, the project partners visited Loughboora Discovery Park in County Offaly, a green tourism initiative which has seen the transformation of bogland once used for the extraction of peat (a fossil fuel) into a leisure and conservation park for the local community and tourists alike. This was followed by a visit to the Accelerate Green Hub, which provides supports in the midlands to start-ups, particularly in the food and drinks sector.

The final day opened with a presentation by Niamh Dooley of BiaSol. Niamh’s company uses spent grain from Ballykilcavan brewery to produce high protein food products and supplements. A proud Midlands entrepreneur, she is an advocate for innovation in the rural economy, and also told the project partners about her participation in ACORNS (Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups) a programme delivered in conjunction with the Government’s Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, to support women entrepreneurs in rural areas.

Christine Collins and Ray Bell, Broadband Officers from Longford and Offaly County Councils, gave an inspiring presentation on the innovative digitalisation policies and initiatives in their counties, which are driving sustainable and green economic growth. The event wrapped up with presentations from the project partners about policies in their own regions to support the Green Economy, and a roundtable discussion in which partners reflected on insights gained and potential pathways forward.

Overall, the ORIGINN Study Visit facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and best practices, emphasizing the critical role of collaborative efforts in advancing the Green Economy in the Midlands. The event highlighted the importance of sustainable practices, innovation, and policy support in driving regional economic development.