A standout finalist in a Europe-wide effort to elevate women farmers
Cheryl Poole, a dairy farmer from County Wexford, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 8th Innovation Award for Women Farmers, a Europe-wide program celebrating women who blend sustainability with productivity. Nominated by ICOS, she and her husband, Alan, raise their family on a 103‑acre farm near Gorey. The farm, in the family since the early 1700s, is a living example of how tradition and innovation can coexist. The Poole herd numbers 72 cows in a high-EBI system focused on milk solids, herd health, and environmental stewardship. Cheryl’s background—a Bachelor of Science from NUI Galway and a doctorate in chemistry—grounds her farming in evidence-based decision making. Her doctoral work examined the mechanism of action of an anti-cancer drug, a foundation she says helps analyse complex farming systems and optimise outcomes on the land.
Water as a unifying thread between farming and family
The River Bann flows through the Poole land, making water stewardship both a personal commitment and a professional objective. The family’s eldest son, Jacob, who has a severe disability, finds joy and therapeutic value in the river, lending the project a powerful, family-centered purpose. This dedication is reflected in the farm’s achievements, including the Blue Dot status along a stretch of the river that recognises high water quality. On-farm innovations tackle water management at several scales: a rainfall garden, sediment tanks, and a constructed wetland slow and filter runoff before it reaches the river.
Biodiversity and nutrient management on a working farm
Conservation sits at the heart of the Poole operation. More than 20% of the land is reserved for biodiversity, with wildlife corridors, orchards, and hedgerows weaving through the landscape. The team emphasizes precise nutrient management to maximise nitrogen use efficiency, while measures such as rooftop slurry storage minimise waste and contamination. Rainwater harvested on the property is used for tasks like cleaning the parlour, reducing reliance on mains water. The Poole family also participates in national biodiversity initiatives, including the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, bat and moth surveys, and ongoing biodiversity monitoring, which help shape day-to-day farming decisions.
Infrastructure that protects the river and boosts efficiency
Practical steps include diverting road drainage away from the river and routing it through filtration systems. Sediment tanks and a constructed wetland slow water flow and improve quality before it enters the river. These actions have lowered nutrient run-off, boosted biodiversity, and safeguarded the waterway. Economically, the measures contribute to lower fertiliser and energy costs while keeping milk solids and overall herd performance strong.
Community impact, national recognition, and what’s next
Beyond the farm, Cheryl and Alan actively engage with schools, deliver talks, and host farm walks to share practical models of sustainability. The project has attracted interest from national and international observers, including European Commission officials and researchers from Zambia and Armenia. The 8th Innovation Award for Women Farmers is led by COPA-COGECA, representing EU farmer organizations and cooperatives, in collaboration with Corteva Agriscience. It spotlights women who drive sustainability, resilience, and innovation in European agriculture.
Meet the other finalists and the prize timeline
Alongside Cheryl Poole, this year’s finalists include Alessandra Pighin’s tech-driven mixed farm in Italy; Sarah Descamps’s closed-loop irrigation system in Belgium, which stores 24 million litres of rainwater; Monika Zsuzsanna Horváth’s goat milk soap production in Hungary; and Lidia Moron Morawska’s organic beekeeping in Poland. The winner will be announced at a ceremony planned for the end of the year in Brussels.
