VistaMilk is proud to announce that it received two prestigious nominations at the Second Annual Irish National Dairy Awards. These nominations underscore VistaMilk’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the dairy sector.
Two research projects within VistaMilk were nominated for the AgTech Ireland Best Dairy Research Programme/Project. This award looks to recognise the top research project or program focused on enhancing an aspect of the Irish dairy industry within the scope of environmental, social, and/or economic sustainability.
Rahul Mhapsekar is a PhD student with VistaMilk who is based in the Walton Institute in Waterford and was nominated for his project looking at Milk Quality Analysis (MQA) in the dairy industry. Rahul is working on developing an Internet of Things platform for wireless sensor network applications for dairy processing. The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.
Dr Ben Lahart, Teagasc, was nominated for his research project that looked at reducing enteric methane production from Agriculture.
The other nominee in the category, and overall winner on the night, was Farm Zero C, a research project from the BiOrbic SFI Centre in collaboration with the Carbery Group.
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“We are incredibly honoured to be recognized in these categories at the Irish National Dairy Awards,” said Dr. Donagh Berry, Director of VistaMilk. “These nominations are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our research centre, as well as our ongoing commitment to driving forward the dairy industry through cutting-edge research and sustainable practices.”
VistaMilk Centre Director Donagh Berry was also awarded the Agri Insider Dairy Leader of the year on the night, an award that recognises the exceptional leaders who have made significant contributions to the dairy industry, demonstrating outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to driving growth, sustainability and success in the industry.
The Irish National Dairy Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the dairy industry, bringing together leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from across the sector. The awards ceremony were held on June 13th, 2024, at the Midlands Hotel in Portlaoise.
VistaMilk’s dual nominations reflect its strategic focus on fostering collaboration between academia and industry, enhancing the competitiveness of the Irish dairy sector on a global scale, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of dairy farming.