Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking with regards to the development of agreed validation protocols between agtech innovators and State agencies and other institutions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56898/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is currently a range of Agtech equipment included in the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) schemes, which provide grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. This includes items such as GPS machinery control, yield monitoring, health and fertility monitoring systems, grass growth monitoring systems, robotic slurry scrapers and automatic calf feeders.

The required validation protocols for new technologies will vary by product and intended usage. Teagasc, the state Agriculture and Food Development Authority, is a recognised and trusted body which undertakes research in the agricultural sector. Companies looking to have their products validated for the Irish market should contact Teagasc to discuss the options for such work to be undertaken.