As part of its sustainable innovation work, the Dingle Hub is aiming to roll-out sensor technology currently being piloted through the Farm Ambassador Project to a further thirty farms on the peninsula. The workshops which will take place on one of our ambassador farms will provide an opportunity for participating farmers to familiarise themselves with the technology involved and take part in an open discussion where they can exchange experiences and gain a greater understanding of the types of innovation arising from this sustainable innovation pilot.

Tom Fitzgerald, the Corca Dhuibhne/Dingle Peninsula 2030 community engagement coordinator will facilitate a workshop on one of the 6 Ambassador Farms which will be a practical session to share information around the project objective - to lead and support a move towards more sustainable farming systems through the use of technology and to reduce costs and improve margins. This focusses on three types of outcomes:

• Technological: New/improved digital technology solutions for carbon & labour/cost efficiency on farms. New products with novel attributes as a result of data providing credence attributes; new or more efficient production methods arising from the use of ‘real-time’ data influencing more focused, objective and precision orientated decision-making; new forms of marketing;
• Social: New collaborations across the chain, particularly between farmers, technology designers, data analysts, food/service entrepreneurs, and consumers. Strengthened social networks in rural areas. New/enhanced livelihoods in a marginalised rural area. Greater social awareness of carbon efficiency in food production;
• Environmental: Greater carbon efficiency on farms. Environmental measures available through the sensor technology will act as a catalyst for farmers to use new strategies to increase carbon efficiency and reduce energy consumption on-farm, e.g. greater use of solar PVs, use of heat transferred from plate cooler to heat water.