Irish secondary school students will travel to Brussels next week to discuss sustainable farming with MEPs and other leading industry figures.

Suckler farmer, Killian Marren, and dairy farmers Sam Caplis and Kyle Gow, from Newport College, Co. Tipperary are finalists in the Certified Irish Angus Beef schools competition.

The students have gone through the various stages of the competition, and were named in the final five last year.

The student's project is focusing on the technology farmers can implement on their farm, the value of technology, and how to help farmers understand the costs associated with adapting technology.

Newport College's project is also attempting to establish the information required to operate a successful and environmentally friendly beef farm, and to highlight the importance of farm planning.

"We went to the ploughing last year and we received five Angus calves as part of the prize. We will rear them for 18 months and we slaughter them this August. We record what we do," the group told Agriland.

Next Wednesday (March 26), the students will head to Brussels to visit the European Parliament for two days, before heading back home on Friday morning.

All three students are looking forward to explaining the details of their project, and the importance of sustainable farming to MEPs.

"We hope to bring awareness to MEPs that more grant aid should be available for a dribble bar," the group said.

At the conclusion of the project, the students will financially benefit from selling the calves to processors. Additionally, the winning students will receive a €2,000 grant to support their future education.

Jennifer Rogers, a teacher in Newport College, is accompanying the students on the trip.

"The entire school community is immensely proud of their achievements. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to agricultural innovation have set an inspiring example for future students and highlighted the vital role of technology in shaping the future of sustainable farming," Rogers said.