Ireland’s food and drink sector is heading into a more complex global market, and Enterprise Ireland is putting innovation at the centre of the response. The Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit has returned to Croke Park, bringing together companies, researchers and public-sector partners to focus on practical steps that can help businesses stay competitive.
Held on 17 June 2026, the annual event is now in its fourth year and is positioned as Ireland’s only dedicated summit focused exclusively on innovation in the food and drink sector. The gathering comes as producers face mounting pressures from input costs, raw material volatility and shifting consumer behaviour, while also being asked to move faster on sustainability, digital adoption and new product development.
Enterprise Ireland summit puts innovation in focus
The message from this year’s summit is clear: while businesses cannot control every external shock, they can invest in the capabilities that strengthen resilience. Enterprise Ireland, working alongside agencies such as Bord Bia and Teagasc, is encouraging firms to prioritise research, development, AI adoption and workforce skills.
The food, drink, nutrition and Climate Action-linked export sectors recorded solid momentum in 2025, with exports reaching €16.98 billion, a 5% increase year on year. The sector also remains a major regional employer, supporting nearly 70,000 jobs across towns and villages nationwide. That gives the summit significance not only for industry leaders, but also for wider Government priorities linked to Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture and Rural and Community Development.
- Practical research and development for food innovation
- Using AI to improve planning, margins and operational performance
- Skills and capability building for long-term competitiveness
- Changing global demand, including healthier and portion-controlled products
Ministers supporting the event said future success will depend on sustained investment rather than relying on past export strength. That position aligns with broader policy signals across gov.ie, where innovation, productivity and regional enterprise growth continue to feature strongly in national economic planning.
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AI, consumer shifts and sector resilience
A major theme at the Enterprise Ireland event is how food businesses can respond to fast-moving consumer expectations. Industry discussions this year include the growing impact of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, which are influencing demand for high-protein, high-fibre, lower-sugar and portion-controlled products.
That trend is reshaping product development strategies and creating pressure for faster market intelligence. For many companies, AI is emerging as a practical tool rather than a future concept, helping improve forecasting, supply planning and commercial decision-making.
Speakers and contributors include figures from Kerry Group, Dawn Meats, Marigot, Killowen Yogurts, IRDG and Skillnet Ireland, alongside startup innovation pitches from Key2Biotics, Ryse Chocolates, Talio and Gigi Supplements. A new Discovery Zone has also been added to give businesses direct, hands-on access to support options available across the innovation ecosystem.
The summit is backed by a network of public and industry bodies, including the Department of the Taoiseach-linked enterprise framework, agencies connected to Education and Further and Higher Education, and partners across Finance, Local Government and Heritage-linked regional development infrastructure. While the event is sector-specific, its implications stretch across the wider Irish economy.
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Why the Enterprise Ireland event matters
The Enterprise Ireland summit underlines an important reality for Irish producers: competitiveness will increasingly depend on how quickly firms can turn research, talent and digital tools into commercial outcomes. With support from agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Teagasc, the sector has a clearer pathway to adapt, but the investment decisions must still be made at company level.
For businesses watching cost pressure and demand changes at the same time, the takeaway from Enterprise Ireland is straightforward: innovation is no longer optional. It is becoming the key driver of future growth, export strength and resilience across Ireland’s food and drink economy.
Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland
