Teagasc at Bloom 2025

Teagasc tent at bloom 2025 with plants

Bord Bia Bloom is one of the biggest horticulture events in Europe.

Bloom is a general garden and lifestyle show with approximately 100,000 people attending over the five days. In 2025, it is taking place from 29 May – 2 June.

Horticulture is Life

Supporting Irish Growers Towards a Sustainable Future for All

Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine come together at Bloom to create an inspiring, informative and educational feature in the Food Village. Using the theme “Horticulture is Life”, the interactive feature exhibits how the organisations work collectively to support the Irish Horticulture Industry and growers, to deliver top quality local sustainable produce and plants. The importance of our domestic horticulture industry is highlighted along with the role it plays in securing our national food supply in a sustainable and innovative way into the future.

Download the Bloom 2025 Plant List and Pictures (PDF)

Teagasc at Bloom walkthrough with Michael Gaffney, Head of Horticulture at Teagasc

Sarah Simpson takes us through the wide array of plants on display at the Teagasc exhibit

On the stage

The stage programme includes daily talks and demonstrations on a range of topics. Teagasc speakers are:

Thursday May 29th

10am – Name That Plant! A fun guide to botanical names Sarah Simpson 2025 CIH Young Horticulturist of the Year Ireland and UK
10.30am to 1pm – Incredible Edibles School Tours – Deirdre Doyle
2pm – Mushrooms the Fascinating Fungi – Donal Gernon and Joy Clarke

Friday May 30th

10am – Amazing Potato science brings goodness to your spuds – Denis Griffin
10.30am to 1pm – Incredible Edibles School Tours – Deirdre Doyle
2pm – Flower power: the most interesting plants in Bloom today – Christopher Heavey

Saturday May 31st

11am – Sustainable Flower Arranging Demonstration – Paul Fitters
2.30pm – Organic Growing: Tips for gardens and allotments – William Deasy
3.30pm – Biodiversity in the Countryside – Catherine Keena

Sunday June 1st

11am -Planet Friendly Plates: A Celebration of Fruits & Veggies – Sinéad McCarthy
2.30pm – Happy Healthy Houseplants – Tips for success – Shane Brett
3.30pm – Fascinating Facts about Irish Trees – Paul Butler

Monday June 2nd

11am – An Apple a Day… But Which One? – Discovering the Apples We Love – Alberto Ramos Luz
2.30pm – Flower power; the most interesting plants blooming today – Deirdre Walsh and Dónall Flanagan

Also on the stage:

Celebrating International Potato Day on Friday May 30th
Meet Kitty Scully and Colm O’Driscoll of ‘Home Grown’
Con Traas – The Apple Farm
Steve Collins – Aronia Super Berries
Cookery demonstrations on using mushrooms, potatoes and strawberries
A day in the life of an Agricultural Inspector
A career on the land
Why you should study horticulture

Points of interest on the Teagasc exhibit

IPM in Action | Horticulture Education | Biodiversity | Forestry | The Future of Food

Horticulture Education

Horticulture education explains the options for lifelong learning and apprenticeships in horticulture; Education was represented by the Teagasc College of Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens and Kildalton College in Kilkenny.

The plantings on display at the stand showcased the training that is available at our College in the National Botanic Gardens and Ashtown and visitors could speak first hand with our expert staff who have built these displays.

Biodiversity – FarmBioNet

Connecting Biodiversity with European Agriculture and Forestry

FarmBioNet is a Horizon European Project uniting farmers, researchers, advisors, and policymakers to bridge the knowledge gap between biodiversity and agriculture. Despite growing evidence of their mutual benefits, biodiversity-friendly farming practices remain underutilised across Europe. We are here to change that.

With partners in 13 countries, FarmBioNet builds national networks that bring together local expertise and scientific research. By promoting practical, accessible, and context-specific solutions, we help farmers and foresters to adopt practices that support biodiversity. For more information email farmbionet@teagasc.ie.

We will explore how biodiversity protection and productive land management can go hand-in-hand and will present inspiring case studies for farming in Natura 2000 sites.

FarmBioNet aims to position Europe as a global leader in biodiversity-friendly land management — supporting resilient food systems, healthy ecosystems, and societal well-being.

Visit the FarmBioNet Team at the Teagasc marquee on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday!

FarmBioNet receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme under project No. 101082102. Associated country partners are funded by SERI.

Forestry – The inspiring benefits of trees and forests

Visitors to Teagasc Forestry at Bloom 2025 can explore the benefits of trees and forests, whether in our gardens or the wider landscape. From individual specimen garden trees to sweet-smelling hedgerow blossoms and the majesty of woodland settings, the benefits of trees are both numerous and inspiring.

Teagasc forestry staff will be delighted to engage on all aspects of trees and their environmental, social and economic benefits. Visit our stand, partake in our tree & timber recognition challenge, immerse yourself in our Virtual Reality forest and hear of a new, exciting Forest Photo Competition.

Join us on Sunday (3.30pm) for “Fascinating Facts about Trees” with Forestry Liaison Officer, Paul Butler.

People plant trees/forests for many different reasons and considerations. These include timber production, biodiversity and landscape enhancement, recreation provision, climate mitigation or leaving a legacy. As forests mature, they gradually deliver more and more benefits, which can be experienced and enjoyed by owners, their families, communities and wider society.

If you have a forestry project in mind, come talk to us at Bloom about the generous supports available.

IPM in Action

The Teagasc Horticulture Development Department will highlight how Irish growers are utilising Integrated Pest Management techniques to help them manage both pests and diseases. At the Horticulture stand you will see numerous examples of pests, diseases and beneficial insects, all of which either help or hinder growers in Ireland.

Our horticulturists will be on hand to explain how these pests and diseases affect different horticultural crops and what beneficial insects growers in Ireland are using to help combat these pests. You can use our wand microscope to get a closer look at these fascinating creatures. Within our display tanks you can watch these beneficial creatures hunt out pest insects, some eat their prey whole while others paralyse them and suck their juices out and our staff will be on hand to tell you more.

Food for the Future

Step into the world of cutting-edge food research with Teagasc. Our Food Programme spans meat, dairy, plant-based, and fermented foods, driving a healthier, more sustainable food system.

At Bloom, discover how science is tackling big challenges like food waste, nutrition, and gut health. Learn how meat co-products are transformed into high-value ingredients and how plant proteins from fava beans and oats can support health and sustainability.

We are also spotlighting the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, a major Ireland-UK collaboration working to transform the global food system towards more sustainable and equitable outcomes.

Explore interactive slides, chat with researchers, and see how Teagasc supports the journey from farm to fork, with science at every step.

Visit our stand to experience food research in action.