INNOVATION
Environmental Innovators Transition Year Programme
Environmental Innovators is a brand new programme for Transition Year students that presents the various challenges that our global food system faces and invites students to investigate potential solutions.
Introduction
The consumption of the world’s natural resources is increasing in line with the global demand for food. 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 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.
Environmental Innovators Peer Day 2025
See below our finalists for the 2025 Peer Day. These student groups were 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 April. The Peer Day concluded with a prizegiving ceremony.
Congratulations to Scoil Mhuire, Trim (Meath) who are our Environmental Innovator National Champions for 2025!
Finalists are listed below in alphabetical order by school name.
Boyne Community School (Meath)
Finalists:Lauren Gilbride, Faye Govern, Alanna Leonard
Topic: Solar Panels
Teacher: Laura Murphy
CBS Thurles (Tipperary)
Finalists: Luke Blackwell, Pádraic Callanan
Topic: Using Comfrey as a Fertiliser
Teacher: Mary Creedon
De La Salle College (Louth)
Finalist: Ronan Owens
Topic: Mobile Solar-Powered Greenhouse
Teacher: Sinead Flanagan
Killina Presentation Secondary School (Offaly)
Finalists: Maja Hejnowska, Kamile Bauzaite, Izabela Keskiewicz, Nora Miteva
Topic: Teabag Waste Recycling
Teacher: Natalia Hanczka
1st Prize: Scoil Mhuire, Trim (Meath)
Finalists: Ciara Duffy, Hannah Mulligan, Majella Martin
Topic: Baling Twine Reuse
Teacher: Belynda O Gorman
2nd Prize: St Patricks Classical School, Navan (Meath)
Finalist Names: Charlie Twomey, Conall O’Sullivan, Conor Duffy, Diarmuid Fallon
Topic: Sustainable Equine Bedding
Teacher: Cathal O’Reilly
St Patricks Classical School, Navan (Meath)
Finalists:Tom Ryan, Tom Concannon, Tom Howley, Fergus Keelan
Topic: School Recycling Competition
Teacher: Cathal O’Reilly
3rd Prize: The High School, Rathgar (Dublin)
Finalists: Doga Erpolat, Jo Jo O’Connor, Olivia Leonard
Topic: Repurposing Waste Paper
Teacher: Geoff Langrell
See below commended entries submitted as part of the 2024/'25 programme.
St. Patricks Secondary School, Castleisland (Kerry)
Finalists: Luke Flaherty, James Credo, Sonia Casis, Cait Daily
Topic: River Waste Collector
Teacher: Kevin Fitzgerald
Coláiste Pobail Naomh Mhuire (Cork)
Finalist: Lily O Callaghan
Topic: Christmas Tree Recycling
Teacher: Mr Pat Curtin
Be the first to know about the next season of the programme by completing this quick expression of interest.
We expect to launch this programme in September 2025, in the meantime, feel free to access the below resources to plan for next years programme.
Environmental Innovators Peer Day 2025
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.
Peer Day 2025 - Project Spotlights
Other Programmes
Other Secondary School Programmes you may be interested in!
