Cork, Ireland – March 14, 2024 – As Ireland gears up to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the esteemed recipients of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) St. Patrick’s Day Science Medal. This prestigious award, bestowed annually, recognises outstanding contributions to science, engineering, or technology by distinguished US-based leaders with strong Irish connections, both in academia and industry.
This year, the honour was conferred upon Mr. John Hartnett, Founder and CEO of SVG Ventures|THRIVE and member of the VistaMilk industry advisory committee. Dr Eamonn Keogh, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Riverside received the St. Patrick’s Science Day Medal for Academia – Dr Keogh was a keynote speaker at VistaMilk’s Masterclass on “Ai in Ag” in February 2023.
Mr. Hartnett’s visionary leadership as the CEO of SVG Ventures|THRIVE has been instrumental in driving advancements in ag-tech. His nomination for the SFI St. Patrick’s Day Science Medal was made by VistaMilk SFI Research Centre in recognition for his invaluable contributions to the centre through his position on the industry advisory board. Mr. Hartnett’s dedication to providing strategic guidance and mentorship has been pivotal in shaping Ireland’s position as a future leader in agricultural technology. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Hartnett said “Ag-tech is a multibillion global industry, and Ireland is well positioned as a leader in food & dairy, with its advantageous geographical location, talent and government supports and holds the potential to emerge as a global hub in this field, underpinned by impactful scientific excellence such as of the VistaMilk SFI Centre.”
Donagh Berry, VistaMilk Centre Director, said “John is a worthy recipient of this award. It reflects his substantial contribution and impact on the Ag-tech industry and his continuous dedication to promoting innovation in research.”
The SFI St. Patrick’s Day Science Medal reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation in science and technology worldwide, while honouring the remarkable achievements of individuals with Irish roots making significant strides on the global stage. VistaMilk is extremely proud to be aligned with both esteemed recipients this year.