TRANSITION YEAR
Environmental Innovators
This Transition Year programme educates students on the challenges that the global food system faces, and invites them to investigate sustainable solutions.
Introduction
The consumption of the world’s natural resources is increasing in line with the global demand for food. This increase in demand is putting pressure on current agricultural practices to optimise output while also reducing impact on the environment. New methods are required to ensure the food production process can evolve to meet global sustainability objectives.
Our youth are the decision-makers of tomorrow, and with that in mind, Agri Aware has developed Environmental Innovators in partnership with BiOrbic. This project-based programme for Transition Year students reviews the various challenges that our global agri-food system faces and invites students to investigate innovative solutions through the completion of a research project.
Participants will develop critical thinking and communication skills, as well as gaining further exposure to science and agri-food careers through global citizenship and sustainable food systems education.
Programme resources: We will share programme resources with registered teachers on Monday 29th September, 2025. If you register after this date you will gain access after submitting your registration form.
Projects: The deadline for project submission is Friday 13th of March 2026. The peer day will be held in Dublin in May.
Environmental Innovators Peer Day 2026
See below our finalists for the 2026 Peer Day. These student groups are invited to showcase their work, attend workshops, and discuss their proposed innovations with leading agri-food stakeholders and peers at a closed event in early May.
Finalists are listed below
CBS Thurles (Tipperary)
Finalists: Daniel Kiely, Conor Lee, Tomás Leahy, Alan Hayes
Topic: Making Takeaway Tubs More Sustainable
Teacher: Teresa Hogan
Borrisokane Community College (Tipperary)
Finalists:Daragh Hogan, Odhran Goulding, Sean Whelan
Topic: Breed Selection For Better Beef
Teacher:Jacqueline Hayes
Killina Presentation Secondary School (Offaly)
Finalist: Dawid Bryja, Kevin Cleary, Ronan Guinan
Topic: Vertical Farming Using Recycled Materials
Teacher: Miriam Moloney
Saint Clares College Ballyjamesduff (Cavan)
Finalists: Eleanor Galligan, Sarah O Reilly
Topic: Methane Reduction
Teacher:Thomas Tierney
Saint Clares College Ballyjamesduff (Cavan)
Finalists: Adam Reilly, Aaron McEnerney, Eanna Clarke, Oisín Smith
Topic: Increasing Buffer Zones
Teacher:Thomas Tierney
Scoil Mhuire Trim (Meath)
Finalist Names:Louise Kane, Bridget Corcoran
Topic: Plastic to Protection – Agri Armour
Teacher:Belynda Weldon O Gorman
St Ciarans Community School (Meath)
Finalists:Dominic Carter, Anderson Smyth, Jack McDonnell, Dylan Reilly
Topic: Bins in Carnaross
Teacher: Cillian Comaskey
St Patrick’s Secondary School (Kerry)
Finalists: Owen O’Keeffe, Mark Keane, Felipe
Topic: Reusing Waste Milk from Cows
Teacher: Ms.O’Connor
Tullow Community School (Carlow)
Finalists:Katelyn Dempsey, Conán Mulvihill
Topic: Spraying Suitability App
Teacher:Orna Brophy
The High School (Dublin)
Finalists:Saoirse Fleetwood, Siofra Quigley, Rebecca Needham, Caoimhe Gannon
Topic: Eggshells as Supplements
Teacher:Geoff Langrell
The High School (Dublin)
Finalists: Rowan Drum, Nikola Jovanovic, Oliver Blain, Aidan Smith
Topic:Rainwater Filtration and Conservation Project
Teacher:Geoff Langrell
St Patricks Secondary School (Kerry)
Finalists:Jaime, Diego, Mateo
Topic: Reducing Plastic on Farms
Teacher: Ms.O’Connor
The objectives of the programme include:
- Increase understanding of the challenges and innovative solutions associated with the agri-food system
- Encourage solution orientated and critical thinking
- Offer supportive material to TYs in their journey towards Leaving Certificate and beyond
Chapters that students will engage with:
- Waste
- Climate
- Biodiversity
- Land Use
- Project Template
Environmental Innovators Peer Day 2025 - Project Spotlights
We welcomed our 2024/’25 Programme Finalists to Bord Bia’s Innovation Hub for the Environmental Innovators Peer Day in April 2025. Learn more about their projects below.
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