21 Sep Meade Farm Group win 2022 IMR Grand Prix Award
Meade Farm Group was announced as the overall 2022 IMR Grand Prix Award winner at the IMR Manufacturing & Research Awards in the Kilashee Hotel on Friday last. Dr Toby Sainsbury, Director of Future Manufacturing Ireland at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment presented the Award to Eileen Hanan and Robert Devlin (pictured above). This was Meade Farm Group’s 2nd award of the day after taking home the inaugural Circular Economy Leadership Award, sponsored by CIRCULÉIRE, earlier in the afternoon, an award which recognises industry actors who are demonstrating sectoral leadership in transitioning their business or supply-chain(s) towards a circular economy model
In the eyes of the judges, Meade Farm Group has embedded sustainability in everything that they do. As well as demonstrating this unrelenting sustainability ethos, they have proactively leveraged and embedded research and innovation into their organisation. From the top down, through excellent leadership, they have truly embraced food waste elimination. Incorporating innovation and creativity, they have found a solution which not only addresses a problem but creates value.
Awards judge and Head of External Collaborations at Nokia Bell Labs, Julie Byrne, said:
“This courageous pivot has resulted in a new consistent market for out-of-spec/surplus potatoes in Ireland and the opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of food manufactured here that previously used imported potato starch.
It is not surprising that this company has been cited as a case study in the European Commission AgriFood Group, the Draft Agri-Food Strategy 2030 for Ireland and elsewhere. Through their approach, Meade Farm Group has set an inspiring example for SMEs across all sectors as they demonstrate the great potential of our research & innovation ecosystem in Ireland.”
The Awards, in partnership with Premier Publishing & Events, were hosted by Marty Whelan who gave a hugely entertaining and energetic performance and included an insightful special guest interview with Dónal Óg Cusack.
This was the 3rd edition of these prestigious Awards and in total there were 14 awards given out during the afternoon recognising the exceptional excellence of the Irish manufacturing industry.
You can find all the award winners on the night here.
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