Connecting at the Ploughing: Innovation and the Freedom to Fail
At the invitation of the Niall Counihan of the ICSA (Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert spent Thursday 17 September at the National Ploughing Championships, near Tullamore. Here is his report on the experience.
This was a great opportunity to get to know more of the people involved in the ICSA, to hear their issues and concerns and to be able to share a bit more detail on how a Universal and Unconditional Basic Income could help their members.
During the day I also met with some representatives of Talamh Beo and heard more about their proposal for a Basic Income for Local Food Producers. I attended the excellent Talamh Beo presentation by Sarah Nolan on this topic.
While Talamh Beo and the ICSA have differences, their members have much in common in terms of the constraints they face running small rural enterprises. For members of each organisation, an Universal. Unconditional Basic Income would allow them to develop their enterprises with the security of knowing that if a new initiative does not prove fruitful, then they will still have a basic level of financial security. This is the ‘freedom to fail’ concept that is central to the sort of innovation, economically and socially, that we need as we deal with the challenges and opportunities coming at us week in, week out.
I also met with representatives of other organisations, including the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and the Organic Growers of Ireland. On a walkabout I visited the Local Enterprise tent and met with small businesspeople who were very interested in the UBI concept, commenting on how this would have really helped them in their early stages.
Looking forward we know that our world is changing rapidly and we will need to adapt and innovate, whilst providing the security and solidarity that we need to foster the human and ecological flourishing that we need and know is possible. A Universal and Unconditional Basic Income, alongside Universal Basic Services, can contribute meaningfully to this positive future.
In a letter to the editor of the Irish Times (15 July 2026), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert argues that an Unconditional and Universal Basic Income would be better than a ‘second child benefit payment’. Read more
In a letter to the editor of the Irish Times (21 April 2026), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert argues that a Universal Basic Income would be good for vegetable growers. Sir, – In his article Read more
Basic Income Would Be Great for Farmers
Published by Basic Income Ireland on
Connecting at the Ploughing: Innovation and the Freedom to Fail
At the invitation of the Niall Counihan of the ICSA (Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert spent Thursday 17 September at the National Ploughing Championships, near Tullamore. Here is his report on the experience.
This was a great opportunity to get to know more of the people involved in the ICSA, to hear their issues and concerns and to be able to share a bit more detail on how a Universal and Unconditional Basic Income could help their members.
During the day I also met with some representatives of Talamh Beo and heard more about their proposal for a Basic Income for Local Food Producers. I attended the excellent Talamh Beo presentation by Sarah Nolan on this topic.
While Talamh Beo and the ICSA have differences, their members have much in common in terms of the constraints they face running small rural enterprises. For members of each organisation, an Universal. Unconditional Basic Income would allow them to develop their enterprises with the security of knowing that if a new initiative does not prove fruitful, then they will still have a basic level of financial security. This is the ‘freedom to fail’ concept that is central to the sort of innovation, economically and socially, that we need as we deal with the challenges and opportunities coming at us week in, week out.
I also met with representatives of other organisations, including the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and the Organic Growers of Ireland. On a walkabout I visited the Local Enterprise tent and met with small businesspeople who were very interested in the UBI concept, commenting on how this would have really helped them in their early stages.
Looking forward we know that our world is changing rapidly and we will need to adapt and innovate, whilst providing the security and solidarity that we need to foster the human and ecological flourishing that we need and know is possible. A Universal and Unconditional Basic Income, alongside Universal Basic Services, can contribute meaningfully to this positive future.
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In a letter to the editor of the Irish Times (15 July 2026), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert argues that an Unconditional and Universal Basic Income would be better than a ‘second child benefit payment’. Read more
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In a letter to the editor of the Irish Times (21 April 2026), BII Joint Coordinator Bobby Lambert argues that a Universal Basic Income would be good for vegetable growers. Sir, – In his article Read more