Minister explores Agri-Tech opportunities for Irish companies in Maryland

Today (Tuesday) the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine Ministerial Trade Mission moved from Washington DC to a series of events in Maryland & New Jersey. The Minister met with Maryland State Government officials, including the Secretary of Agriculture, Joe Bartenfelder, and the Secretary of Natural Resources, Mark J. Belton and representatives of Biomass Heating Solutions (BHSL) to discuss BHSL’s technology for poultry waste management. 

BHSL, an agri-tech company based in Ireland, has developed a patented system to convert untreated poultry manure into energy for heating, cooling and electricity generation that meets the energy needs of the farms.  The company has benefited from a significant project with the Maryland State Department of Agriculture which has assisted its development both in Ireland and the US.”

Commenting on the meeting Minister Creed said; “there was a real appetite from the officials I met for further collaboration between Irish companies and the State particularly in the Agri-tech space.  I was accompanied by Enterprise Ireland for this meeting who continue to work closely with the rapidly developing Agri-tech sector.”

The Ministerial delegation continued on to the Mullica Hill cold storage facility, one of the largest facilitators of imports of meat and other food. The meeting gave Irish producers in the delegation a chance to learn more about the opportunities for exporting Irish Meat, including beef, to the US. 

Today’s engagements concluded with a meeting with Senior Management of the Port of Philadelphia. Commenting on today's meetings, the Minister noted that it was very important for Irish producers to make industry contacts in the US. “A key part of our efforts during Trade Missions such as this one is to facilitate important introductions between Irish exporters and key industry contacts on the ground in a host Country.  Today's engagements with significant gatekeepers along the supply change provided a good opportunity for our Trade representatives to develop new relationships which will aid their efforts in developing their footprint in the US marketplace.”

Tomorrow will see the delegation in Chicago for a series of events focused on dairy and beverages.

To view this Press Release as a PDF: DAFMPR 111/2017 (pdf 178Kb) 

Date Released: 20 June 2017