Friday, 03 October 2025
AgNav, a free and voluntary digital sustainability platform developed for farmers and advisors across Ireland, has been recognised as one of the top 20 global innovations accelerating sustainable livestock transformation. This recognition comes as part of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, held from September […]
AgNav, a free and voluntary digital sustainability platform developed for farmers and advisors across Ireland, has been recognised as one of the top 20 global innovations accelerating sustainable livestock transformation. This recognition comes as part of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations’ Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, held from September 29 to October 1, 2025, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
AgNav was selected through a competitive international process from hundreds of global applications. It will be featured in the dedicated session titled “Pitching Technological Innovations for Sustainable Livestock Transformation, One Health and Animal Health” at the conference.
The platform was jointly developed by Teagasc, Bord Bia, and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), with support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
Speaking on behalf of the AgNav partners at the conference will be Natasha Browne, climate sustainability technologist at Teagasc. She will present AgNav to an audience of more than 1,000 global participants, showcasing Ireland’s efforts in leading environmental sustainability in agriculture.
Livestock farming accounts for a significant share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane, a potent short-lived climate pollutant. According to the FAO, livestock emissions represent about 14.5% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions globally, with enteric fermentation from ruminants being a major contributor.
For Ireland, where agriculture accounts for around 37.5% of total national emissions, the majority of which come from livestock, addressing this challenge is critical to achieving its climate commitments under the EU’s Green Deal and national Climate Action Plan. Tools like AgNav play a key role in helping farmers reduce emissions without compromising productivity or profitability.
Alongside AgNav’s recognition, several key Irish agricultural leaders are also contributing to the event:
Prof. Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc and President of the European Animal Task Force, will chair a side event titled “Today’s Leaders, Tomorrow’s Success – Youth Leadership in Sustainable Livestock”. This session will explore inclusive approaches to empowering youth in the livestock sector.
Prof. David Kenny, Head of Animal and Bioscience Research at Teagasc, will take part in a panel discussion titled “Scaling Technological Innovations: Insights from Successes”. He will highlight technologies that have had a tangible impact on sustainable livestock practices.
Reflecting on AgNav’s selection, Prof. O’Mara stated:
“The showcasing of AgNav as an actionable solution at the second FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation is testimony to how Ireland is leading the way in empowering farmers to improve productivity, ensure economic viability, and enhance environmental sustainability.”
AgNav is designed to support Irish farmers and advisors in making more sustainable, data-informed decisions. As a voluntary and free digital platform, it consolidates farm-level information and helps users assess the environmental sustainability of their livestock operations. By doing so, it supports Ireland’s climate targets and contributes to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
AgNav’s development and global recognition align with several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 2: Zero Hunger – by supporting sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – through the efficient use of inputs and reducing waste.
SDG 13: Climate Action – by lowering the environmental footprint of livestock farming.
SDG 15: Life on Land – by encouraging better land management practices that protect biodiversity.
Its inclusion in the FAO’s top 20 innovations signals its potential to be scaled or adapted to other regions, particularly where livestock is central to rural economies.
AgNav is part of a broader trend in agricultural digitalisation, where data-driven tools are helping to modernise how food is produced globally. The future of sustainable farming will increasingly rely on such platforms, especially in sectors like livestock, which face intense scrutiny over their environmental impact.
As countries work to meet climate targets while maintaining food security, digitally-enabled sustainability tools like AgNav could become standard components of national agricultural policies—offering transparency, traceability, and tangible action plans.
AgNav’s inclusion in the FAO’s top 20 global innovations highlights Ireland’s leadership in sustainable livestock development. As the global livestock sector seeks practical, scalable solutions to environmental and productivity challenges, AgNav stands out as a national initiative with global relevance, built through collaboration and backed by science.
This recognition not only affirms AgNav’s innovative approach but also strengthens Ireland’s role on the international stage in advancing climate-smart agricultural practices.
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