Mallow-based BioClover has added another major international accolade to its growing list of achievements, after being named Winner of the New Agricultural Technology Company of the Year at the UK Prestige Awards.
The award marks another significant milestone for the innovative company, which is combining agriculture, biotechnology and cosmetic science from its base in Mallow.
The latest recognition follows BioClover’s recent inclusion by The Sunday Times as one of Ireland’s emerging beauty brands to watch for investors.
The company was founded by cosmetic chemist Sinead O’Keeffe and David O’Keeffe, a biodiversity-qualified land manager, with the pair combining their backgrounds in beauty and farming to develop a new approach to sustainable cosmetic ingredients.
BioClover develops scientifically validated cosmetic ingredients using red clover grown on the family farm at Ballinvuskig West, creating a traceable “farm to formula” process for the beauty industry.
Sharing the news of the UK award, Sinead O’Keeffe said the initial phone call informing them that they had been shortlisted was something she “never imagined”.
The company then received a second call with the news that the judges had been impressed by its innovation and had selected BioClover as the overall winner.
“Combining my background in beauty with David’s expertise in farming has allowed us to create something we truly believe is sustainable, innovative and needed,” Sinead said.
She added that the team was “absolutely delighted” and grateful for the support it had received throughout the company’s development.
At the heart of BioClover’s work is CloverCell®, a bioactive ingredient derived from red clover grown, harvested and processed entirely in Cork.
The company’s closed-loop model is designed to provide cosmetic brands with full traceability, allowing ingredients to be tracked from their agricultural origin through to formulation.
BioClover also carries out independent laboratory testing and provides analytical and regulatory documentation to support the use of its ingredients within the cosmetics industry.
The business is effectively bringing together two industries that might not traditionally be associated with one another, farming and high-end cosmetic science.
Its model places biodiversity-focused agriculture at the centre of an innovation pipeline aimed at supplying scientifically backed ingredients to an international beauty market.
The UK Prestige Award adds to a growing list of recognition for the Mallow company and comes at an important stage in its development.
The company is now looking towards its next chapter, with the award providing further recognition of the potential of its approach to sustainable agricultural technology.
For Mallow, the success of BioClover represents another example of an innovative local business developing a product with ambitions well beyond the region.
From red clover grown on a family farm in Ballinvuskig West to a prize on the international agricultural technology stage, BioClover’s journey is putting a distinctly Mallow-grown innovation story into the spotlight.
Sinead and the BioClover team are now looking forward to attending the UK awards ceremony and continuing the development of the company.
