Technology adoption: Experience from the BETTER farm Sheep ProgramTeagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway.IntroductionThe sheep sector in Ireland has experienced significant changes over the past two decades. The national sheep flock had been in steady decline from a high of more than 4.5 million sheep in 1995. This trend was halted last year when numbers began to increase, albeit marginally, to around 2, 5 million sheep (CSO). The increase in positivity in the sheep sector has come at an important time for Irish agriculture. As an industry, the sheep sector contributes around 250 million euros to national agricultural production every year. The Food Harvest 2020 report set the goal of increasing the value of this sector's production by a further 20%. The report highlighted the need to improve competitiveness at farm level and in particular the need to improve the level of adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, the report highlighted the need for greater use of focus groups and the Teagasc BETTER farms program for sheep to facilitate the process of technology transfer and adoption. The Teagasc BETTER farm Sheep program was established in the autumn of 2008 with the aim of accelerating the process of technology transfer, demonstration and evaluation. Currently, 6 lowland farms in counties Donegal, Roscommon, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford and Kerry and 3 hill farms in counties Donegal, Sligo and Mayo are involved in the program. These farms provide focal points to enable wider adoption of the technology by both the lowland and hill sheep sectors. One of the key criteria used in selecting these farms was their attitude towards... middle of paper... focus groups and the BEST farms in their respective areas. By facilitating this process farmers could address key issues affecting the production and profitability of their sheep farm. By implementing the technology on 'real' farms that would be used by 'real' farmers where any side effects have commercial implications, it would provide a compelling demonstration of how the productivity, efficiency and profitability of sheep production could be improved by adopting the technology relevant. It was also anticipated that two-way communication with these farms would provide a valuable feedback loop for Teagasc research programmes. Furthermore, some of the findings identified on these farms and the questions raised through interaction with farmer groups would identify gaps in the existing knowledge base that needed further research.