Innovation is something founder and managing director of Keogh's Crisps, Tom Keogh has adapted to in his business.

He has said that agri-business in particular is a sector where innovation is key to progress and succeed.

"On a sunny Saturday morning in October 2025, I loaded two boxes of our latest Keogh’s Crisps into the back of the van and headed down the motorway to meet the new class beginning the one-year, part-time AgInnovation Master’s at University of Galway," Keogh explained.

"To my surprise, instead of eating the crisps, they critiqued them.

"I left Galway with two empty boxes, fresh ideas of my own, and a reminder that innovation often begins when people are willing to question what is already in front of them.” 

Across rural Ireland, people are thinking hard about the future of farming, agriculture and rural life.

Rising costs, changing markets and new environmental challenges mean that standing still is no longer an option.

The question many are now asking is simple: How can innovation create new opportunities for farms, families and rural communities?

“We need farmers to innovate,” Tom added. “They are not only the backbone of our food system, but also the driving force behind resilient rural communities and future economic growth.”

Learning to innovate

The one-year, part-time Level 9 AgInnovation Master’s at University of Galway was developed for people who want to explore new opportunities in agriculture.

Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, but they share a common curiosity about new ideas, new opportunities and new ways of thinking.

The programme explores topics such as:

Farm diversification;
Food innovation;
Sustainability;
Rural enterprise;
Technology and digital opportunities;
Entrepreneurship and business development.

For many participants, the programme becomes much more than an academic qualification.

It becomes a place to test ideas, build confidence, challenge assumptions and discover opportunities they may never have previously considered.

This course is not a traditional classroom-based masters degree.

Participants attend 36 online evening sessions and 10 on-campus Saturdays across the academic year.

The flexible format allows people to continue working while completing the programme.

Innovators

Throughout the year, participants hear directly from entrepreneurs and innovators who have built businesses, developed products and created opportunities from simple ideas. 

Alongside Tom Keogh, guest speakers openly discuss the realities of entrepreneurship – the risks, the setbacks, the lessons learned and the rewards.

Their stories provide practical insight and inspiration for participants exploring possibilities within their own farms, businesses and communities.

Graduates of the programme have gone on to:

Launch new businesses;
Develop inventions and innovations;
Diversify family farms;
Create additional income streams;
Pursue opportunities they had never previously considered.

The AgInnovation Master’s Programme is open to anyone with an interest in innovation, entrepreneurship and rural development. 

You do not need a business plan. You do not need previous business experience. You simply need a willingness to think differently and explore new possibilities.

Applications are now open, with just 30 places available and further detail is available from the university.