Offaly organic farmer and artisan food producer Margaret Edgill is one of the 2024 presenting scholars. She will report on a blueprint for farm diversification through agri-food tourism at this year’s Nuffield Ireland conference ‘Shaping the future of Irish agriculture’ which takes place on Friday, 15 November in the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Co Carlow.

Attendees will hear from the six returning Nuffield scholars who will present the findings of their research on several evolving issues which are shaping the future of Irish agriculture.

The scholarship is a leadership development programme, in which participants who demonstrate potential are given a bursary to travel, research and present a report on their chosen topic.

Margaret’s research highlights the potential of agri tourism to revitalise Ireland’s rural economy. By diversifying their operations, farmers can enhance their income, create jobs, and attract tourists to rural areas.

Career pathway

With a diverse career, starting in geology, Margaret did a part-time business course, and a master’s degree, which led her to working in marketing in the equine industry.

She successfully secured funds for the National Equestrian Centre and worked as a marketing director. She transitioned into agriculture specialising in artisan food production and agri tourism after returning to the family beef farm when her mother became ill.

“I couldn’t work off the farm because I couldn’t leave her. So, I always call myself a farmer by default, because it wasn’t on the to-do list, it just happened to work out like that,” says Margaret.

In 2015, Margaret renovated part of her parent’s house and started renting it out on Airbnb; it didn’t take long before it took off and she became a super host.

I do spring calving, then I go into tourism, then in the autumn we grow all our food, harvest it and make all the preserves and chutneys

“That’s did well and we evolved into having two glamping pods. Then I started to produce a range of food which is now a slow food and tourism model. I do spring calving, then I go into tourism, then in the autumn we grow all our food, harvest it and make all the preserves and chutneys. I sell directly from here because I couldn’t leave to go to the farmers market,” she says.

Margaret now runs a beef suckler herd and produces Hereford weanlings off a grass-fed system, while she maintains the organic farming traditions her father set back in 1998.

Blending the old and new, some of the older farm buildings have been repurposed for events and accommodation and she now hosts a Christmas fair on the farm where she opens a tea room and sells her products.

Nuffield scholarship

A change came when a team of agricultural consultants came to the farm for a weekend, and asked Margaret if she would consider applying for a Nuffield scholarship.

“It got me off the farm, which is great, that’s probably the real plus. Also I was in my own little funnel and it allowed me to look abroad,” she says.

Her study emphasises the need for a comprehensive national agri tourism strategy to support the growth of agri tourism and farm diversification. Key enablers include government support, aligned stakeholders, and a focus on sustainability.

“Farmers are entrepreneurial by their very nature,” says Margaret.

“There are accelerator programmes, and things that could be done to support them better and a bit more joined-up thinking is important.”

According to Margaret, by learning from international models, Ireland can position itself as a leading destination for agri tourism, contributing to both economic and social development.

“We’re an island off the edge of Europe and we have a huge opportunity, because of the whole Origin Green scenario and sustainability.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done. A third of farms are not viable unless there’s somebody working off-farm but agri-tourism could relieve that financial stress.

“It shouldn’t matter what size the farm is, it can be a five-acre farm, it can be a150-acre farm. They all need to make money.

“People are doing amazing stuff,” Margaret says, “but we need for suppliers, restaurants and all the actors, to sing that song. We really do need policy to support that.”

See nuffield.ie. For Margaret’s farm, see mountbriscoe.ie