Food Innovation Summit: Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit returns to Croke Park

Ireland’s food sector is under pressure, but it is also finding new room to grow. The Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit returned to Croke Park on 17 June 2026, placing innovation, AI adoption and workforce capability at the centre of the conversation for food and drink businesses navigating a fast-changing market.

Hosted by Enterprise Ireland, the annual event brought together hundreds of companies, researchers and industry partners for what is described as Ireland’s only dedicated summit focused solely on innovation in food and drink. The gathering comes as exporters deal with higher raw material costs, margin pressure and global uncertainty, while still trying to stay competitive at home and abroad.

Enterprise Ireland summit highlights pressure and opportunity

The Enterprise Ireland event follows a solid year for the wider sector. According to the agency, Food, Drink, Nutrition and Climate Action-related exports across its key sectors reached €16.98 billion in 2025, a 5% increase year on year. The industry also supports nearly 70,000 jobs across Ireland, especially in regional towns and rural communities.

Speakers at the summit focused on the practical steps businesses can take now, including:

• Investing in product and process innovation
• Using AI to improve planning, profitability and performance
• Building workforce skills to support future growth
• Responding to consumer demand for healthier and more transparent products

A major trend discussed was the rising impact of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, which are influencing demand for high-protein, high-fibre, lower-sugar and portion-controlled food products.

Government and industry leaders back innovation-led growth

Support for the Enterprise Ireland summit was echoed by senior figures across Government and industry. Minister of State Alan Dillon said Ireland’s long-term competitiveness will depend on continued investment in research, development and skills. Minister Martin Heydon also pointed to the importance of Food Vision 2030, while warning that innovation can no longer be treated as optional.

The event aligns naturally with the work of agencies and departments across gov.ie, including Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture, Finance and Further and Higher Education. It also sits within a wider ecosystem involving Bord Bia, Teagasc and third-level institutes that support Irish enterprise development.

Key sessions at Croke Park

This year’s programme featured a mix of keynote talks, panel discussions and start-up pitches. Among the businesses and organisations represented were Kerry Group, Dawn Meats, Killowen Yogurts, Marigot, IRDG and Skillnet Ireland.

Highlights included:

1. An opening address by Enterprise Ireland Chairman Jim Woulfe
2. A keynote conversation on leadership and resilience in a changing food landscape
3. Panels on R&D, AI tools and skills development
4. Innovation pitches from Key2Biotics, Ryse Chocolates, Talio and Gigi Supplements

A new Discovery Zone also gave attendees a hands-on look at support programmes available to companies starting or expanding their innovation journey.

Why the Enterprise Ireland summit matters now

The Enterprise Ireland summit reflects a wider reality for Irish food and drink producers: cost inflation and global volatility are real, but so are the opportunities created by innovation. With support from Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Teagasc and public bodies connected to Agriculture, Health and Rural and Community Development, the sector is being pushed to adapt faster and smarter.

For food businesses, the message from Croke Park was clear. Investing in innovation, digital tools and talent is no longer just a growth strategy; it is a resilience strategy. As the Enterprise Ireland summit showed, the companies most likely to succeed will be those that act early, use available supports and build products that match the next wave of consumer demand.

Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland