The project is supported by the Irish government through IDA Ireland.
AB Agri employs more than 3,500 people around the world and sells animal feed, nutrition and technology-based products and services in 65 countries. The company said most of the new roles will be in software development, software engineering and data science with other roles in HR, business administration and finance.
The Intellync business works across agricultural supply chains, with AB Agri saying it is aimed at increasing productivity, improving animal health and enhancing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
José Nobre, chief executive, AB Agri, said the idea is that its combination of its digital products, data insight and technological innovation with its expertise in feed and nutrition will enable customers to produce and process food in a responsible way using fewer chemicals and antibiotics, safeguarding natural resources and create less waste and lower emissions.
“This is an extremely exciting time for agriculture; the fast pace of developments being made in technology and the use of data are going to help our industry to make the major step changes we need to see in improving responsible productivity, if we are to continue to feed our global growing population in a sustainable way.”
EU commissioner for trade, Phil Hogan, commented on the development, saying technology and data-driven innovation will be central to improving the efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of agri-food systems in the coming years: “The establishment of this important agricultural technology center in Kilkenny will help Ireland to remain at the cutting edge of producing more, while using less.”