Ireland’s food and drink sector is under pressure, but it is also entering one of its most important periods of transformation. The Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit returns to Croke Park with a sharp focus on helping companies respond to rising costs, changing consumer habits, AI adoption and the skills needed to stay competitive in fast-moving export markets.
Hosted by Enterprise Ireland, the annual summit brings together food and drink businesses, researchers and industry partners for a practical day centred on innovation. As covered by Enterprise Ireland, the event arrives after another strong year for the wider sector, with Food, Drink, Nutrition and Climate Action-linked exports reaching €16.98 billion in 2025, up 5%, while supporting almost 70,000 jobs across Ireland’s towns and rural communities.
Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit Puts Practical Growth First
Now in its fourth year, the Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit is designed to help companies focus on what they can control in a difficult market. With input costs, raw materials and global instability weighing on margins, the summit highlights practical routes to resilience through research, development, workforce capability and smarter use of digital tools.
The event also reflects broader priorities across Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture and regional development. For businesses tracking support services on gov.ie, the summit underlines how state-backed innovation can strengthen indigenous exporters and protect employment.
- Practical R&D strategies for food product development
- Using AI to improve planning, profitability and performance
- Building workforce skills for long-term competitiveness
- Responding to changing nutrition and consumer demand
- Connecting firms with support agencies and research partners
Why consumer change is a major theme
A key discussion point at this year’s gathering is the impact of GLP-1 weight-loss medications on food demand. Industry leaders are increasingly watching the shift toward high-protein, high-fibre, lower-sugar and portion-controlled products. That makes innovation not just desirable, but essential for Irish brands seeking to hold market share at home and abroad.
Read more: latest Irish government and enterprise developments | breaking Ireland business, policy and innovation news
What to Expect at the Croke Park Summit
The programme features senior industry voices, policy support and start-up innovation in one place. Speakers and participants include companies and organisations working across the Irish food ecosystem, with backing from Bord Bia, Teagasc and higher education partners.
Highlights include:
- An opening address from Enterprise Ireland Chairman Jim Woulfe
- A keynote conversation on leadership and innovation in a changing food landscape
- Expert panels on AI, R&D and skills development
- Innovation pitches from emerging food businesses
- A Discovery Zone offering hands-on access to innovation supports
This blend of policy, business and applied expertise is especially relevant for companies also engaging with agencies and public bodies such as IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Department of the Taoiseach, Finance and Local Government and Heritage where infrastructure, investment and competitiveness intersect.
Government and agency backing for the sector
Ministerial support for the event signals the importance of food and drink within Ireland’s export economy. The summit aligns with long-term priorities in Agriculture, Education, Further and Higher Education, Public Expenditure and regional enterprise policy, while reinforcing the need for stronger links between research systems and industry uptake.
Explore more: premium insights on Irish innovation, tourism and luxury market trends | in-depth coverage of Ireland public sector and economic updates
Why the Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit Matters
The Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit is more than a calendar event. It is a signal that Irish food businesses must keep evolving as consumer behaviour, technology and international competition shift rapidly. For founders, exporters and established manufacturers alike, the message is clear: innovation, AI capability and skills investment will shape the sector’s next phase of growth.
As Ireland looks to sustain export momentum and regional employment, the Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit offers a timely roadmap for businesses that want to compete smarter, move faster and build long-term resilience.
Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland
