Almost €20m in funding has been announced by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, designated to 38 research projects. The projects came from the Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Competitive Call for Research Proposals.

“Innovation is a key pillar of FoodWise 2025 and this investment today is aimed at keeping Irish agriculture to the forefront of innovation delivering on environmental sustainability, competitiveness and the bio-economy,” said Minister Creed.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Island (DAERA NI) will provide up to an additional €1.5m to Northern Ireland-based institutions involved in the research projects.

Sustainability

A number of supported projects will investigate agri-environment, including measures to promote sustainable production in crop and animal systems, protecting waterways, soils and improving nutrient management from farmland, as well as projects to further understand biodiversity and ecosystem services found in agricultural landscapes.

A total of 17 Irish research-performing organisations will benefit from the awards announced, including Teagasc, the universities and the institutes of technology.

The investment across all 38 projects will provide higher education opportunities for 90 postgraduate students in the form of 55 PhDs, 35 masters degrees and 75 contract positions for postdoctoral and other researchers.