SETU research team wins European food innovation award
A research team from the Department of Land Sciences at South East Technological University (SETU) has secured a major European accolade for innovation.
The team was awarded the 2025 Best Market Discovery Prize in the ‘Fair and Resilient Food System Mission’ at the European Institute of Technology (EIT) Food Seedbed Incubator Programme.
The Seedbed Incubator is a six-month programme aimed at transforming science and technology-based innovations that can help solve global food system challenges into market-validated businesses.
The award-winning team developed a digital technology designed to help tackle food loss and waste across global agri-food supply chains.
Through an intuitive and user-friendly platform, Eye-Q supports decision-making for businesses, retailers, and consumers, helping to reduce food waste at every stage of the supply network.
According to the research team, the technology "has the potential to strengthen food security while supporting international sustainability goals and more resilient food systems".
Societal impact
Dr. Ultan McCarthy, Department of Land Sciences at SETU, said: “We are delighted to be selected as winners of the 2025 Best Market Discovery Prize in the Fair and Resilient Food System Mission.
“Being part of the EIT Food Seedbed Incubator 2025 Cohort Network allowed the Eye-Q team to connect with a global community already making a difference in food waste reduction and to further develop Eye-Q for international impact.”
Department head Eleanor Kent added: “Eye-Q aligns strongly with SETU’s wider mission to tackle food waste, support sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship.
"The technology addresses a significant global challenge and demonstrates how applied research can create meaningful economic, environmental, and societal impact.”
Dr. James O’Sullivan, head of innovation and commercialisation at SETU, worked closely with the Eye-Q team.
He said: “This award is an important recognition of the innovation potential within SETU’s research community and highlights the strength of collaboration between researchers and the university’s commercialisation supports.”
According to SETU, the success of Eye-Q highlights Ireland’s “growing reputation as a leader in sustainable agri-food innovation, demonstrating how research, collaboration, and digital transformation can deliver real-world impact”.
The Eye-Q project is supported through the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Programme.
