DAFM announces €5.9m in research funding
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has announced €5.9 million in research funding under the international strand of the department's research programme.
The financial support will enable Irish researchers to be involved in the EU Agroecology Partnership Call, the Green ERAHUB Joint Call, the ICT-AGRI-FOOD Call, and the US-Ireland R&D Partnership.
The department outlined that it 'makes sense' for international collaboration on research projects, given the challenges currently facing the sector.
The Agroecology Partnership, which is funded by Horizion Europe, brings together the European Commission and 72 partners across 26 EU member states, associated countries, and third countries.
Its aim is to support an agriculture sector that is fit to meet climate targets, and deal with challenges surrounding biodiversity loss, food security, and the environment, while ensuring profitable and attractive activity for farmers.
DAFM's funding will also be involved in the ICT-AGRI-FOOD project. This project is run by the European Research Area Network (ERANET) and is focused on underpinning the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems with digital technology.
The aim of the project is to address the challenges faced around the world by agricultural and food systems. It hopes that this would emphasise the role these systems play in mitigating issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security.
Recipients attending DAFM offices. Back row l-r: Dr Ian Short, Professor Fiona Doohan, Dr Gary Gillespie, Dr Samuel Browett, Professor Alan O'Riordan, Dr Achim Schmalenberger, Dr Ciaran Hearn. Front row l-r: Dr Mahjabin Siddique, Dr Tamíris Da Costa, Dr Adriana Cunha Neve, Minister of State Noel Grealish, Dr Yuansong Qiao, Dr Aine Macken-Walsh, Dr Laura Boyle, Dr Saorla Kavanagh.
Research funding
Another research project DAFM is funding is the Green ERAHUB (GEH) research initiative.
This project aims to provide information, communication, cooperation, networking, and joint transnational funding in the agri-food and biotechnology sector for national funders and researchers.
The second call on sustainable and resilient agri-food systems under the GEH was focused on the improved resilience and health of crops and livestock production.
Finally, DAFM will give funding to the US – Ireland R&D Partnership. This is a tri-jurisdictional alliance between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the US.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Call for stronger farm supports as Ireland takes leadership role in climate-smart agriculture
Department-funded research unveiled at the Dublin conference dedicated to addressing the intricate relationship between agriculture and climate change has revealed a calcium-peroxide-based feed additive that can cut indoor methane emissions by 10-28%, depending on diet, inclusion rate, and animal type. Notably, one study showed that RumenGlas was linked to a 12% improvement in growth rate and feed efficiency, alongside a 10% reduction in methane emissions - the first time this dual benefit has been observed in Ireland. Since 2020, the Department of Agriculture has invested over €48m in research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming. This includes 28 active projects and 132 research positions created in 2023–2024. The conference, titled 'Agriculture and Climate Change: Science into Action' took place at Dublin Castle. Hosted by minister for agriculture, food and the marine, Martin Heydon, and minister of state with responsibility for research, Noel Grealish, it included 500 delegates who heard from national and international scientists on the latest research to reduce agricultural emissions and enhance carbon storage on farms across the country. It takes place alongside a meeting of the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, which Ireland, through the department, is currently chairing. In his opening address, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the conference represented building a "shared path forward", and one that "ensures the next generation of farmers inherits not only a liveable planet but also a thriving, competitive, and respected agricultural sector". He said: The transition to climate-smart agriculture does not need to be a burden. It is a chance to safeguard what matters most — our land, our water, our food, our planet and our future. It is a chance to show that climate action and agricultural excellence can go hand in hand — and that Irish farmers can lead the way. Addressing attendees, minister Heydon said: 'Reducing emissions from agriculture is a monumental challenge, but one that the sector is taking seriously, evidenced by the huge interest in today's conference. 'We have assembled some of the best national and international researchers, whose findings are providing the practices and technologies we need to reduce emissions, while continuing to produce food. Research funding from my department has supported world-leading agri-climate research in universities, Teagasc and other institutes across the country. "In 2023 and 2024, this funding created 132 new research positions in agriculture and climate research across 28 projects. This ensures we have some of the best research talent in the world working on these complex scientific areas. 'This conference will see a wide range of exciting research updates, including, for example, Irish research demonstrating the potential for a 10-28% reduction in methane from a feed additive, depending on the animal type, diet, and the inclusion rate of the additive. "In addition, and for the first time in Ireland, one study has demonstrated both an animal performance benefit from feeding the additive, as well as its ability to reduce methane. The challenge going forward is to bring these tools into widespread use on Irish farms – and to do that, we are working with farmers every step of the way. "Our farmers are innovators and are ready to lead on climate action – not just for Ireland, but as an example to the world.' Other research highlighted at the conference included new data from the department-funded ROADMAP project suggests genetic selection can reduce methane emissions by up to 20% with no compromise on desirable traits like growth or fertility, and big climate gains from bio-stimulants and fertiliser technologies. For example, an algal-based bio-stimulant could lower chemical nitrogen needs by 20%, while protected urea and nitrification inhibitors can cut grassland emissions by 70–89%. However, speaking at the conference, farm organisations warned that farmers needed to be adequately supported to meet the ambitious goals set out in climate targets. Irish Farmers' Association president Francie Gorman said: 'There are lots of targets, reports, projections, documents, conferences, etc, but no properly-funded plan to support farmers to reduce emissions or even to reduce the regulatory roadblocks hindering farmers trying to make environmental improvements on their farms. Examples of this include a biomethane strategy which is not fit for purpose; delays in implementing planning exemptions for nutrient storage; delays in ACRES payments; failure to properly support the tillage sector; a totally failed forestry programme; and an absence of initiatives to support the adoption of feed or slurry additives. 'The vast majority of farmers on the ground are committed to reducing emissions, but our planning system and the general unwillingness of the State to put proper supports in place is inhibiting them more than helping them,' he said. Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president, Denis Drennan, said that despite massive challenges, Irish farmers were "completely engaged" in efforts to address climate change, and the results and data were now showing the fruits of those efforts. However, Mr Drennan stressed that farmers needed reassurance that those plans still rested on 'the three pillars' of sustainability - economic, environmental, and social. 'There are challenges ahead that will have to be faced and even leaving aside the very significant and unfair anomalies in the accountancy framework used for measuring emissions, the most obvious challenge is the ongoing failure of Government to 'step up' and support farmers in their efforts to carry through the changes that the Government itself is urging on the farmers," he said. "It's this failure of the Government to support its own policies and recommendations that is hampering even more encouraging results and data. 'Irish agriculture is leading the way globally in meeting the climate challenge, and ICMSA believes that farmers can, and will, do more if properly supported. But that's going to mean that policymakers stop overlooking the daily and real obstacles to farmers as they adopt and change and start 'going at' these obstacles in a meaningful way, whether it's destructive income volatility or animal health or margin-grabbing and unfair corporate and professional practices. "The Government has a choice: Work with farmers to make more progress or ultimately pay the fines that will be levied because Ireland falls short on the emissions targets that could have been hit if we'd had the support. "That's the choice, really, and Budget 2026 is where we'll see if the Government understands that choice and has made a decision that is logical on both the environmental and financial fronts," he said. Read More Demo farm reports 32% lower emissions with more profitable cattle
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Strawberry moon set to be visible across Irish skies
The strawberry moon will be visible across Irish skies this evening. The appearance of the strawberry moon is a rare one, as it occurs once every 18 years. The moon gets its name from native American tribes, who used it to mark the start of the strawberry-picking season. Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Assistant Professor Ray Butler, of the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Galway, said that he expects the moon to be salmon-pink in colour. He added that smoke from wildfires in the US will also impact what the moon will look like this evening. "Smoke from the wildfires crossed over and light passing through the smoke is reddened ... especially at low altitude in the sky. This particular June full moon is very low above the sun horizon, about eight degrees up," he said. "The combination of a low altitude which always makes things a little yellower, warmer in colour, and now this extra smoke will make it kind of particularly pronounced. "I would expect salmony-pink, because of these two effects," he added. Mr Butler said that while the strawberry moon will appear to be bigger in size, it will actually remain the same size as normal. "It'll be a normal size. There is an interesting psychological thing when the moon is close to the horizon, we think it's bigger than when it's higher in the sky. Of course it isn't actually. "If you look at something on a distant horizon ... they look really small. Therefore the moon, in contrast, looks big relative to them," he said. Mr Butler added that the strawberry moon will be visible throughout the night tonight, and will be clearest in the south east this evening, the south in the middle of the night and south west towards dawn.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish astronaut Dr Norah Patten opens up about training on ‘vomit comet' & major food mistake she won't ‘make again'
IRISH astronaut Dr Norah Patten has revealed how she avoids getting sick on the "vomit comet" as she trains for space - and the big mistake she won't be repeating. The 4 Dr. Norah Patten is set to go to space in 2026 Credit: Naoise Culhane 4 Aer Lingus has collaborated with Norah to help her on her journey Credit: Naoise Culhane She will board Virgin Galactic's second-generation spacecraft, Delta, with Kellie Gerardi of the United States and Dr Shawna Pandya of The "first-of-its kind' flight, which is less than two hours long, will reach The sub-orbital flight is estimated to cost $600,000 (€560,000). The aeronautical engineer, who works for Realtra Space Systems Engineering in Coolock, is currently training for the mission and has her food plan "down to a fine art" to avoid puking on board. READ MORE ON TRAVEL She stated: "The microgravity flights are often named the vomit comet because people get motion sick on them. "Because you are flying up and down, you get 20 seconds of weightlessness and then you transition into a 2G pull, so everything becomes heavy. "People often like to know what I eat in advance, so I have it down to a fine art now. "I have a plain chicken wrap, two and a half hours before I fly and I am good to go. Most read in News Travel "With not too much mayonnaise, I made that mistake once and it is not to be made again." Dr Patten also revealed what happens when astronauts need to pee. Katy Perry & Lauren Sanchez unveil new sleek women's Blue Origin spacesuits after vowing to 'put the a** in astronaut' She told us: "People like to understand all the behind-the-scenes things, even down to the adult nappy. "It's a maximum absorbency garment, The MAG, and you actually wear those on the space flight. "Astronauts wear them on the way to the space station as if you did have to go to the toilet." 'LITTLE EYES' And she also told how she loves being a hero for young kids - and even receives fan mail in the post. She said: "I think having that opportunity to be on the "Getting invited onto the show was really really special, as they only have a handful of guests that they invite on. "They get invited on because they were nominated by the kids. "Which I just think is so lovely, Zara and Killian would have written letters on why they wanted to meet me. "I never would've expected to get something on that scale before my flight. "To get that as an opportunity pre-flight was just really really special. "I even get fan mail now, as An Post send me letters addressed to Norah Patten Astronaut." When asked what she would miss most among the stars, she said: "This journey is such a long time coming that I don't think I will be focused on anything I will miss. "I think I will be too focused on everything I can gain from this flight." 'HUGE UNDERTAKING' Dr Patten, who has dreamed of being an astronaut since she was 11, has teamed up with She said: 'My mission to become the first Irish person in space is a huge undertaking and I'm grateful to Aer Lingus for their support on my journey. "As the flag carrier of Ireland, Aer Lingus has long inspired people to travel and to explore new destinations. "This partnership with Aer Lingus will enable me to travel seamlessly to North America to continue my practical preparation and research, with each step bringing me closer to making this dream a reality. "Together, I hope we can ignite the imaginations of young dreamers, encouraging them to undertake their own adventures – wherever they may be.' 'VERY PROUD' Aer Lingus Chief Executive Officer, Lynne Embleton, said they are "very proud" to support Norah. She added: ' At Aer Lingus, our mission is to connect people, places, and possibilities—and Dr Norah Patten's extraordinary journey to become the first Irish person in space is the perfect embodiment of that spirit. "Her determination proves that with ambition, dedication, and the ability to dream big, anything is possible. "We are immensely proud to support Norah as she embarks on this historic journey over the next two years. "This is a once-in-a-generation milestone for Ireland, and we have no doubt that her mission will inspire people across the nation and beyond to pursue their own aspirations. "Norah is a true trailblazer, paving the way for Irish women in STEM and leaving a legacy that will resonate for generations to come." 4 The UL graduate has dreamed of being an astronaut since she was 11 years old Credit: GETTY 4 Norah is set to leave with her crew in 2026 Credit:
