Luke Blackwell from CBS Thurles in Thurles, Co. Tipperary was announced as the overall winner of the ABP Sustainable Farming Practices Award at the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) with their innovative project, ‘A novel approach to regenerative agriculture through the use of comfrey as a sustainable soil enhancer’. Luke impressed judges with his innovative and forward-thinking project, which sought to provide a sustainable solution to pollution problems and over-reliance on artificial fertilisers.
Luke’s study compared comfrey as a plant-based fertiliser against artificial fertilisers, focusing on its impact on soil health, crop yield, and environmental sustainability. Trials demonstrated that comfrey improves soil structure, enhances organic matter, and reduces nitrate runoff by 16.67 per cent, lowering CO2 emissions by 10.6 per cent compared to artificial fertilisers. Combining comfrey with slurry further enhanced its effectiveness, providing a practical and sustainable solution to regenerative farming challenges in Ireland.
This is the eleventh consecutive year, ABP has sponsored a category at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Stephen Connolly, agriculture sustainability manager for ABP Ireland & Poland, said congratulated Luke on his innovative project, which, he said, has deservedly been recognised with this year’s Sustainable Farming Practices Award. “This award continues to highlight and celebrate the ingenuity of the next generation, who are committed to creating sustainable solutions to address the evolving challenges of modern agriculture,” he added.
ABP has a strong track record in researching and advancing sustainable practices in Irish agriculture. At its demonstration farm in Carlow, the company collaborates with Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) to support beef farmers in reducing emissions. Trials have demonstrated significant potential to lower the carbon footprint of beef through measures like reducing the age of slaughter, improving genetics, and enhancing feed efficiency. These results, tested across over 6,000 animals, are now being applied through farmer initiatives such as the ABP Advantage Programme.