We learned from the farmers we spoke to that the average farmer in Ireland can spend upwards of 70,000 euro on fertiliser each year. This rising cost is simply unsustainable for farmers who are forced to abandon their livelyhoods. Due to the rising costs, farmers have less job security as they might not be able to afford to continue growing crops, adding to social unsustainability. As well as this, fertilisers pose a massive threat to the environment as they can lead to soil degradation, water pollution through runoff, and the release of harmful greenhouse gases. This is becoming a major concern all around the world and especially in Ireland - leaving the future of farming hanging in the balance.

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Our project aims to boost plant growth by stimulating soil microbes, offering a potential solution to the high costs of chemical fertilizers—a serious issue for Irish farmers. The idea has attracted attention, particularly from University College Dublin (UCD), which has shown interest in the project. UCD has invited the team to collaborate and continue their research at its agricultural facility in Newcastle, Co. Kildare. The team is also testing their model on a working farm in Co. Tipperary, where early results are very promising.​

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