Engineering Innovation and Dual Market Access make Northern Ireland’s Agri-Solutions more attractive than ever

With centuries of tradition in farming and a rich heritage of agricultural innovation, Northern Ireland continues to serve as a proving-ground for modern, sustainable farming solutions.

Thanks to our engineering DNA, the region has high levels of food production generating eight times more food than it consumes, according to a recent report from KPMG.* 

A long-time leader in developing and testing new innovations, County Down’s own Harry Ferguson patented the three-point hitch system – the technology that changed tractor design and farm management forever.  Over a century later, the name Ferguson remains part of the global farming fabric with tractors all over the world bearing his name.

His revolutionary invention, best in class equipment, verified to improve efficiency, is engineered and manufactured all over Northern Ireland, with the region spawning awarding-winning solutions across the entire agri-sector.

Some of our leading companies will be exhibiting at Agritechinica this year.

Proven to save up to 80% on fertiliser costs is SlurryKat’s multi-award-winning Umbilical Pumping Systems designed both to improve the availability of nutrients from slurry/manure for plant uptake and minimise environmental pollution. Not surprisingly, this technology is utilised by contractors and farmers around the world.

Another Northern Ireland company that improves farm efficiency is UPU Industries with field testing showing that its big bale netting for crop protection guarantees a tighter bale with over-the-edge cover ensuring the most efficient storage and transportation of round bales. These credentials see it utilised in over 30 countries.

Our region’s lightweighting expertise is also making farming safer and more efficient with the likes of Donite Plastics. With an impressive track record in the aerospace, construction and medical sectors, it is revolutionising the agri-sector by applying plastic solutions to agricultural vehicles and equipment. Its lightweight yet more robust chainguards are exterior protective panels that just need bolted on, with no extra timewasting or triming activities to make it fit. It also looks good as the thermoforming process allows for design flexibility. 

Other companies, that can be visited at  Agritechnica, include NC Engineering which manufactures a wide range of agri-machinery including slurry pumps, mixers, separator, tankers, sweepers, grabs, cutters and trailers.  Its commitment to create quality products at affordable prices, has seen it snap up numerous awards for design and innovation  - thanks to its policy of continuous research and development.

Yet, it is not surprising that our agri-engineers have the best machines on the market when you consider the likes of Fleming Agri has been producing agricultural machinery for more than 150 years and currently exports over 100 product lines to more than 20 countries worldwide. Its hardwearing products include aerators, bale handling equipment, grass toppers, harrows, land rollers, shear grabs, trailers and slurry tankers.

Additionally, given that Belfast is Europe’s leading FDI destination for new software development (fDi Markets FT, 2023), it is no surprise that our agri-innovators are leveraging that ICT expertise. Farm Compare is one example. Its platform which connects farmers with manufacturers to source equipment, allowing them to compare products quickly. Like many of our companies they know first-hand what is needed as the business was launched on the back of the owners’ own challenges tracking down the best equipment for their own farming business.

The region is an excellent testbed for innovation as, with 75 percent of land used for agriculture, farming is our biggest industry.

The sector is supported by leading research centres including The Institute for Global Food Security at Queens University - ranked number 1 in the UK for agriculture in both the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and the Complete University Guide 2023 with some 94 per cent of its research considered ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. And, Ulster University’s Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health (NICHE) is the largest centre for nutrition research on the island of Ireland and one of the largest in Europe.

Northern Ireland also has a reputation for delivering high quality, on demand, on time components and equipment around the world. That third-party verified reliability combined with innovation means our agri-solutions are ever increasingly sought after.

Now, Northern Ireland is the only jurisdiction in the world where companies can trade freely with both GB and EU markets. It is easy and cost effective for agri-businesses to buy our machinery.

Thanks to special status afforded by the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland’s tariff-free access to two of the largest global markets allow European farmers and agri-businesses to access our machinery as easily as from within their own countries.

All in all, there has never been a better time to check out Northern Ireland’s agri-solutions so why not visit us at Agritechnica, Stand J40 in Hall 27.

As the regional business development agency, Invest NI's role is to grow the local economy.

We do this by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.

We are part of the Department for the Economy and provide strong government support for business by effectively delivering the Government’s economic development strategies.

*Understanding Northern Ireland’s Food Supply Chain/Safety and Agri-Tech capability, and future windows of opportunity August 2023