Teagasc, Ireland’s semi-state body for agricultural research, training and advisory services, maintained its income at just under €191.4m for 2019, which was in line with the previous year. Launching its annual report on Wednesday this week, Teagasc reported an operating surplus of €5.7m for 2019. Again, this was in line with the previous year.

Teagasc brought in just under €35m in operational income last year, which was up 4% year on year

Teagasc receives the bulk of its income (70%) from state-funding, which amounted to just under €150m last year. The farm advisory body also received just over €3.4m in funding from the EU, with the majority of this coming under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research funding stream.

Teagasc brought in just under €35m in operational income last year, which was up 4% year on year. Teagasc generates its operational income farm advisory service fees paid by farmers, course fees paid through its network of agricultural colleges, income from research conducted on behalf of third parties as well as income from its network of research farms.

Teagasc made income of just over €3m from its network of farming operations at its various research farms

In 2019, income from advisory fees from farmers, almost all of which comes through the Knowledge Transfer programme, fell by 2% to €10.3m. At the same time, income from college fees was down 8% to €4.3m due to lower numbers enrolled in agricultural colleges in 2019.

The drop in funding from advisory fees and college fees was more than offset by an 18% increase in income from outside sources to €16.6m. This included a €3m grant from Enterprise Ireland, a €4.4m grant from Science Foundation Ireland as well as increased income for externally funded research.

Teagasc made income of just over €3m from its network of farming operations at its various research farms.

Expenditure

Total expenditure at Teagasc for 2019 stood at €185.7m, which was in line with the previous year.

Wages and salary costs for the 1,258 employees at Teagasc accounts for 42% of total expenditure by the semi-state agency and stood at €78.4m last year. Staff expenses such as mileage and subsistence was in line with the previous year at €5.6m. Total remuneration for the senior management team at Teagasc stood at €719,000 for 2019.

Teagasc said it also invested €10m in the National Food Innovation hub at Ashtown in Dublin

During 2019, Teagasc said it invested €10m in the new Moorepark Technology Limited, which is a state-of-the-art research centre and pilot dairy plant. Teagasc is the majority shareholder in this new business, which will be used by the Irish dairy industry to develop new innovation pipelines.

Teagasc said it also invested €10m in the National Food Innovation hub at Ashtown in Dublin. This new facility is expected to be up and running in the first half of 2021 with companies such as food multinationals and the infant formula companies already booked in to begin using it.

Alongside the existing Prepared Consumer Food research centre in Ashtown, Teagasc say this will play a key role in Ireland’s Brexit strategy for the food industry as it will help food companies diversify into new products and markets.