Synergy Days 2026/Agenda

20-21 October 2026 – Kilkenny, Ireland

The most important conference connecting the digital innovators of the European agri-food sector.

Associated Event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026

Synergy Days 2026 has been recognised as an Associated Event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026. The event supports dialogue on digital innovation, sustainability and the future of European agriculture - topics that are closely linked to European policy priorities.

Please note: Recognition as an Associated Event does not mean that Synergy Days 2026 forms part of the official Presidency programme or that it is organised, hosted or funded by the Government of Ireland.

When

The 2026 edition of Synergy Days will take place on 20-21 October in Kilkenny, Ireland!

For the sixth consecutive year, this event will bring our community together to connect, discuss key topics, and exchange knowledge and experiences.

This year, we have also planned an optional third day on 22 October, featuring field trips. Read more and register here.

Contact: event@synergydays.eu

How can my project join?

Boost your project's visibility with 5 free tickets, logo placement on event marketing, GDPR-approved contacts, a project pitch, an exhibition spot, and opportunities for workshops!

Missed the project info session? See the slides here.

Are you an Irish national initiative? Get more info here.

Previous editions

Curious about the previous editions of the Synergy Days? Follow these links to find the agendas, participating projects and other related content of the previous years.

Synergy Days 2025
Synergy Days 2024

FAQ

How can I get to the venue?

Getting to Newpark Hotel Kilkenny

By Car

Newpark Hotel is located on the Castlecomer Road (N77), just north of Kilkenny city centre and is well signposted from all major routes.

Approximate driving times:

Dublin: 1 hr 20 min
Waterford: 45 min
Cork: 1 hr 45 min
Limerick: 1 hr 45 min
Belfast: 3 hr 5 min

The hotel offers free on-site parking (400 spaces), including 4 EV charging points.

By Air

The nearest airport is Dublin Airport, approximately 85 minutes away by car. Cork Airport and Shannon Airport are each approximately 110 minutes away.

From Dublin Airport, you can:

Hire a car
Take a direct coach or taxi to Kilkenny
Travel to Dublin city centre and connect via train from Heuston Station

By Train

Kilkenny is served by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) on the Dublin–Waterford line.

Typical journey times:

Dublin Heuston → Kilkenny: 1 hr 30 min
Waterford → Kilkenny: 30 min

Tickets and timetables: www.irishrail.ie

From MacDonagh Junction Station, the hotel is approximately 2 km away — a 5-minute taxi ride or 20-minute walk.

By Bus

Bus Éireann operates regular services to Kilkenny from Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and other major cities.

Timetables and fares: www.buseireann.ie

From Kilkenny bus station, the hotel is a 5-minute taxi ride or approximately 20 minutes on foot.

I would like to stay at the conference venue, Newpark Hotel Kilkenny. How can I book a room?

If you would like to stay at the event venue, Newpark Hotel Kilkenny, you can book your room at the preferential business rate using the link below:

https://secure.newparkhotelkilkenny.com/convert/site/Newpark%20Hotel/en/rate/9273063.html

I will require a visa to attend the event.

Please send your inquiry to event@synergydays.eu

For urgent matters please call +32 458 01 07 38

Do I need to register separately for the field trips?

Yes. If you wish to join a field trip, please select your preferred option in the registration form. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Programme

Day 1, 20 October

8:00 - 8:45

Registration

8:45 - 9:00

Welcome

9:00 - 10:00

From research to land: How EU Innovation will boost European agriculture and farmers

Discover how AgData is turning EU innovation into real value for farmers and European agriculture. With expert insights, a farmer’s perspective, and an interactive panel, the session will spotlight how data-driven innovation can support a more effective and connected agricultural future. This will refer to current and upcoming results of the AgData partnership and explores how AgData connects with the Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS) and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) to strengthen policy uptake, stakeholder collaboration, and practical impact on the ground.

Speakers:

Jesper Stendal - AgData coordinator/ Danish Agency for Green Land Redevelopment and Aquatic Environment, Denmark

Francesco Iadecola - Research Programme Officer, European Commission

Jürgen Vangeyte - CEADS Coordinator/ILVO, Belgium

10:00 - 10:30

Project pitches 1

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

10:30 - 11:00

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

11:00 -12:00

People at the Heart of Digital Agrifood: Skills, Inclusion and Entrepreneurship

Explore how the future of digital agrifood depends not only on technology, data and AI, but above all on people. This plenary highlights the vital role of skills, advisory systems, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation ecosystems in accelerating digital adoption across the agri-food sector. Featuring perspectives on women, young entrepreneurs, advisors, startups, SMEs and new entrants, the session will showcase how human-centred innovation can build a more resilient, connected and inclusive agricultural future.

Speakers:

Laurence Claeys - Product Manager at Sensolus & Guest Professor VUB, Belgium

Ursula Kelly - CEO Cormac Tagging, Ireland

Siobhán Jordan - Head of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Teagasc, Ireland

Dietrich Van der Weken (TBC) - General Manager G-STIC, Belgium

12:00 - 12:30

Pitch session round 2

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

12:30 - 14:00

Lunch break & Synergy market

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

14:00 - 15:30

Workshop round 1

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

15:30 - 16:00

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

16:00 - 17:30

Workshop round 2

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

Day 2, 21 October

8:00 - 8:30

Registration

8:30 - 9:30

AI & the Valley of Death: EDIHs, TEFs and Regions as the Deployment Fast-Lane

Explore how promising AI solutions in agri-food can move beyond pilot projects and into real-world use. This plenary brings together SMEs, farmers, investors, EDIHs, TEFs and regional actors to examine the barriers between validation and adoption. Through real SME stories and a dynamic panel discussion, the session will spotlight what is needed to scale innovation faster, reduce risk, build trust and create stronger pathways from test to field across Europe’s agri-food sector.

Speakers:

Raffaele Giaffreda - AgriFoodTEF / Chief Innovation Scientist at FBK, Italy

Kiernan Sullivan - farmer, technologist and researcher at Walton Institute, SETU, Ireland

Laura Clifford - Senior Programme Manager for European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) at Enterprise Ireland, Ireland

Daniel Copot - Business Development Manager, DIH AGRIFOOD Manager at ITC - Innovation Technology Cluster, Slovenia

Jerome O Connell - CEO and co-founder of Proveye

Padraig Hennessy - CEO of Terra NutriTECH

Dr John Carrigan - Investment Director at The Yield Lab Europe, Ireland

9:30 - 10:00

Pitch session 3

EU-projects and companies will pitch their achievements and future plans

10:00 - 11:00

Designing integrated data systems that work for policymakers, administrators and farmers

AI-enabled technologies are advancing rapidly across Europe’s agri-food sector, yet many promising solutions still struggle to move beyond pilot, demonstration or validation stage. For SMEs, having a strong technology or a validated solution is often not enough. The real challenge lies in moving from testing to real-world deployment, securing first customers, accessing the right infrastructure, attracting investment, navigating regulation, and building trust with farmers, food producers and end-users.

This plenary will explore how Europe can close the gap between validated innovation and market adoption. It will examine how European Digital Innovation Hubs, Testing and Experimentation Facilities, SMEs, farmers, investors and regional ecosystems can work together to create a more coordinated deployment pathway for AI in agri-food.

The session will open with short SME journeys, where companies will share what they have developed, where they became stuck between testing and deployment, and what support, policy or pathway would have helped them scale faster. These stories will ground the discussion in the real experience of SMEs and technology adopters.

The panel will then explore the deployment challenge from multiple perspectives: the role of EDIHs in supporting SMEs to scale, the role of TEFs in validation and testing, the experience of farmers and end-users in adopting new technologies, the investment and commercialisation gap, and the lessons from SMEs working to bring innovation into the market.

The discussion will consider how EDIHs, TEFs and wider ecosystem actors can reduce risk, strengthen handovers, accelerate time-to-market, and support the wider adoption of Applied AI across the agri-food sector.

Speakers:

Catherine Dempsey - Head of the Data management & Analytics Division in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland

Caroline Sullivan - Chief Operating Officer for Hen Harrier Programme Ltd, Ireland

Jenny Deakin (TBC) - Programme Manager at Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland

Lillian O’Sullivan - Senior Research Officer in the Teagasc, Ireland

Aileen Sheehan Macra na Feirme - Young Farmer of the Year 2025, Ireland

11:00 - 11:30

Break

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food

11:30 - 13:00

Workshop round 3

Interactive workshops are searching for synergies between various projects and initiatives on data and digital technologies in agri-food.

13:00 - 14:30

Lunch break & Synergy market

Visit the Synergy Market and meet EU-projects and companies working on digital innovations in agri-food.

14:30 - 15:30

EU–Global South Data Bridges for Resilient & Fair Food Systems

Discover how the EU and the Global South can work together to build more resilient, fair and inclusive food systems through data, digital innovation and responsible AI. This plenary brings together global initiatives, policy voices and real-world innovation hubs to explore practical solutions that close the gap between research and impact. With inspiring keynote insights, concrete use cases and audience interaction, the session will spotlight new opportunities for collaboration, governance and action across regions and food value chains.

Speakers:

Henry van Burgsteden - Lead, FAO Programme Priority Area on Digital Agriculture, United Nations

Abhishek Sharma - IEI CoCE for Smart Agriculture, ABV IIIT&M Gwalior, India

Nnenna Nwakanma - Chief Catalyst, Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Health Innovation (PAATHI), Abidjan

Andre van Lammeren - Managing Director Environmental Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands

15:30 - 16:30

Where Data Meets the Factory Floor: Scaling Digital Food Processing in Europe

Discover why food processing is the missing middle in digital agri-food innovation. This plenary explores how data, AI and automation can deliver real impact on the factory floor by improving resource efficiency, addressing labour challenges and helping companies move from pilot projects to large-scale deployment. With practical industry examples, expert insights and an interactive discussion, the session will spotlight how digitalisation can strengthen sustainability, competitiveness and faster uptake across Europe’s food processing sector, including for SMEs.

Speakers:

Bram de Vrught – CEO at QING Food Automation, The Netherlands

Dr Ultan McCarthy - Academic and Researcher, Department of Land Sciences at South East Technological University (SETU), Ireland

16:30 - 16:45

Closing ceremony

16:45 - 17:30

Cocktail drinks

Day 3, 22 October (optional field trips)

9:00-13:00

From Factory to Farm: KEENAN/Alltech Livestock Technology Tour

Experience how science, engineering and digital innovation are shaping the future of livestock farming during this exclusive visit to the KEENAN manufacturing facility, part of the Alltech Group.

The tour begins with an introduction to Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition and biological solutions, highlighting how science-led innovation is helping producers improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability worldwide including the InTouch Feed Management Technology.

Delegates will then enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the KEENAN manufacturing facility to see how advanced feeding equipment, precision engineering and digital feeding technologies are developed to support modern livestock production.

The experience continues with a visit to a nearby farm, where participants will see the KEENAN feeding system in operation and learn how data-driven decision-making is delivering measurable improvements in feed efficiency, animal performance, and farm sustainability.

From global innovation strategy to manufacturing excellence and real-world farm application, this tour offers a unique opportunity to see how research and technology are translated into practical solutions for livestock farming.

Coach departs: 09:00 from the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

Return: Approximately 13:00 to the Newpark Hotel

Places are limited and advanced registration is required,

8:30-14:30

From Food Processing to Digital Innovation: Waterford Innovation Tour

Discover how technology, research and innovation are being applied across Ireland’s agri-food sector during this Synergy Days field trip to Waterford.

The day will begin with a visit to Goatsbridge Fish Processors in Thomastown, where participants will gain an insight into the operation of an Irish food business and explore how technology can support production, processing and business development.

The group will then travel to Walton Institute at SETU’s Carriganore Campus in Waterford, where delegates will meet researchers working across agriculture, food and digital technologies. Participants will also hear from Dr Ultan McCarthy, Department of Land Sciences, who will provide an overview of SETU’s proposed Food Technology Centre, followed by a walking tour of the Carriganore campus and its research facilities.

The final stop will be GROW HQ in Waterford for a relaxed walk-and-talk and light lunch. GROW HQ combines an award-winning café, organic kitchen garden, education centre and working farm, providing a practical example of how food, sustainability, education and community can come together.

This field trip will give participants an opportunity to see different parts of the agri-food innovation ecosystem in practice, from food production and processing to university research, digital technologies and sustainable food systems. It will also provide an informal setting for discussion and networking with researchers, businesses and fellow Synergy Days participants.

Coach departs: 08:30 from the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

Return: Approximately 14:30 to the Newpark Hotel

Places are limited and advanced registration is required.

Register for this field trip

8:30-13:00

From Research to Farm: Teagasc Oak Park Technology Tour

The day will begin with a visit to a progressive Irish farm, where participants will see a range of technologies being used to support farm management, productivity, sustainability, and decision-making. The host farmer will provide practical demonstrations and share insights into the benefits and challenges of adopting new technologies on-farm. Delegates will have the opportunity to engage directly with the farmer during an interactive question-and-answer session, exploring how digital tools are transforming everyday farming operations.

The second part of the trip will take participants to Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre in Carlow, one of Ireland’s leading agricultural research facilities. During the visit, delegates will gain an overview of current research and innovation activities, learn how science and technology are supporting the future of farming, and discover how researchers, farmers, technology providers, and policymakers are working together to address key agricultural challenges.

This field trip provides an ideal conclusion to Synergy Days, combining practical farm experience, research excellence, networking opportunities, and valuable insights into Ireland’s agri-food innovation ecosystem.

Coach departs: 08:30 from the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

Return: Approximately 13:00 to the Newpark Hotel

Places are limited and advanced registration is required.

Register for this field trip