Interactive view of XLSX resource • 288 total records
| # | Call Year | Programme | Research Theme | Lead institution | Project Title | Project Summary | Amount Awarded | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019 | RSF | Animal Production | University College Dublin | Development of genomic epidemiology systems for tracking and eradicating Mycobacterium bovis in Ireland | The Irish control programme for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) currently costs farmers, the exchequer and EU €84M. While progress has been made in reducing bTB prevalence, the current government strategy to eradicate bTB by 2030 will not be achieved if solely based on existing controls and policy. Bovine TB (bTB) control hinges upon efficient identification of reactor animals and infection sources. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides a high resolution molecular characterisation of pathogens allowing their transmission to be efficiently tracked in time and space. Hence, WGS represents a technology that, if integrated with the current bTB control programme, can precisely identify strains of Mycobacterium bovis circulating in herds and associated wildlife and hence greatly improve the efficiency of attributing sources of residual infection. The goal of our project is to integrate M. bovis WGS with the current bTB control and surveillance programme in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and Northern Ireland (NI) and demonstrate how M. bovis WGS can support bTB eradication. We will compare WGS data from NI and RoI to develop a detailed understanding of the population of M. bovis on the island of Ireland. Our overarching objectives are: to optimise M. bovis WGS to facilitate integration with routine M. bovis culture; to develop the computational tools that summarise the genomic data in the context of existing cattle and wildlife population databases; to use WGS to estimate transmission rates of M. bovis within and between cattle and wildlife populations; and to combine RoI and NI WGS data to define the population of M. bovis on the island of Ireland. Our extensive collaborative national and international network will act as a foundation of expertise to draw upon during the project and provide a broad platform for the dissemination of our outputs. | 408403 | Euro |
| 2 | 2019 | RSF | Cross-cutting Issues | Teagasc | Rural Generational Renewal 2050 | What future drivers of change and challenges will matter most to renewing rural jobs, agriculture and forestry in the period to 2050; what are the implications of these drivers for the attractiveness of farming/forestry, generational renewal and, ultimately, rural jobs; how, in the context of these developments, can new generations be invigorated to participate in farming and forestry; what policy initiatives are required to support new generations, develop human capital and deliver the skills needed to ensure the continued sustainable development of the sector in the period to 2050? These are some of the questions that guide Rural Generational Renewal 2050 (RENEW2050). RENEW2050 brings together a multi-actor consortium of researchers, farm extension professionals, rural policy stakeholders and practice partners with significant knowledge and experience of agricultural and rural development policy. The project draws on the team’s knowledge, skills and experience to develop a trans-disciplinary research network that will undertake research, design and implement foresight processes and engage is participatory policy evaluation and design initiatives. RENEW2050 applies a mixed methods research approach to develop detailed understanding of the key challenges and applies this knowledge to inform the foresight process. Trans-disciplinary foresights will be undertaken in three regions, ensuring that geographic differences in challenges and opportunities are reflected in the development of foresight scenarios. These scenarios will provide a means of assessing the performance of current policy or public and private strategies which impact farming and forestry attractiveness and identify potential new policy options and their likely impacts. The study will identify skills challenges associated with the visions of the future and current and potential new methods to address associated human and social capital needs. The research findings will be translated into a policy tool kit for, particularly, policy stakeholders to use in implementing actions renewing rural jobs, agriculture and forestry. | 346617 | Euro |
| 3 | 2019 | CoFoRD | Forest Protection & Utilisation | University College Dublin | A smart and open-science approach to monitor and analyse deer populations in the Republic of Ireland and set the scene for evidence-based deer management. | Deer populations have reached extreme levels in many parts of the Republic of Ireland (RoI), resulting in serious financial and environmental damage to forests, agriculture, welfare and road safety. Neither the precise distribution nor the population density of the four deer species is currently known. This lack of knowledge makes the country unready to face upcoming challenges with deer management, namely costly human-wildlife conflicts and climate change. For a deer management policy to be effective, we propose three actions needed to implement a nationally-coordinated strategy. (i) We aim to collate the deer data collected by stakeholders over the last 25 years. This includes national deer culling data, which are key to study long-term population trends. Furthermore, we need to interact with stakeholders and congregate finer spatial resolution datasets unexploited so far, e.g. systematic deer observations by hunters, forest damage data, and deer-car collisions. The involvement of stakeholders will be maximised through the organization of workshops. The data will be aggregated into an open-access library, creating an evidence base that would drive deer management decisions. (ii) We aim to model subsets of the deer spatial data gathered in the open-access library using recent advances in species distribution and habitat modelling. We will disentangle the biotic and abiotic drivers of deer population dynamics and distribution. This will produce the most up-to-date distribution maps of deer species in the RoI, including the identification of the hotspots of human-deer conflicts to prevent forest damage, traffic collisions, interaction with livestock. (iii) We aim to develop and test a smartphone application for hunters to report the number of deer observed while hunting, a cost-effective means to collect systematic deer observations to significantly improve deer monitoring in the RoI. New evidence-based guidelines for the management of deer will be released at the end of this project. | 244800 | Euro |
| 4 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Chain Integrity & Safety | Teagasc | Quantifying, understanding and mitigating microbial and chemical food safety risks in horticulture | HortAssure aims to support the horticulture industry in mitigating risks associated with microbiological and chemical contamination in horticultural food crops, through provision of evidence based knowledge regarding sources of contamination and assessment of validated technologies and alternatives to mitigate the identified risks in a sustainable and affordable manner. HortAssure will define where critical issues arise for both microbial and chemical contaminants in horticultural crop production. It will tackle the parallel challenge of reducing chlorine usage, whilst ensuring product quality and safety, through assessing the efficacy of alternative biocidal agents, technologies and packaging alternatives which can be incorporated into current production systems. This will support the development of risk exposure models for chlorates and specific microbial contaminants in target crops. Ultimately, HortAssure will support the horticulture industry in meeting their obligation to produce safe food and enable them to take advantage of market opportunities for expansion, underpinned by increased food safety assurance. | 995412 | Euro |
| 5 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Galway Mayo Institute of Technology | High Nature Value Farmland and Forestry Systems for Biodiversity | Conservation of natural resources, halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services are key environmental objectives of the European Union. High Nature Value farmland and forest (HNVFF) areas are associated with high biodiversity and other public goods. HNVFF areas are thus headline indicators in the Rural Development Programme and EU legislation requires that High Nature Value farmland and forests are identified, monitored and targeted for agri-environment payments. The HNV_FarmForBio project will develop a (geo-spatial) methodology to identify, characterise and map the national extent of HNV farmland and forest areas (Tasks 1 & 2). For the first time, we will investigate an approach towards assessing the quality (in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem service provision) of HNV farmland and forests (Task 1 & 3), using national scale indicators of HNV quality. This approach will build on experiences and guidance from existing quality assessment of forest areas (i.e. National Forest Inventory). We will model incentives for the maintenance and enhancement of HNV farmland and forest areas, not only for biodiversity, but also for associated ecosystem services (including carbon storage and water quality) (Task 4). This approach will facilitate the development of an integrated policy framework incorporating a range of innovative agri-environment climate measures and areas of biodiversity enhancement for forests and farmland (Task 4). The results of the project will be disseminated to key stakeholders (Task 5). The HNV_FarmForBio project will provide a methodology that will contribute to the baseline indicator for HNVFF for Ireland, under the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The outcomes of the project will inform policy, but also benefit broader sections of our society and economy. The project will answer questions in relation to the management of our HNV farming and forest areas, including understanding the existing state and establishing systems for monitoring change. | 449166 | Euro |
| 6 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Processing Technology & Engineering | University College Cork | Eco-friendly compostable pectin based packaging material derived from waste sources of fruit pulp and its validation in bread packaging | Addressing packaging waste has become one of the most pressing environmental issues facing us globally today. Attempts to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging materials have not had the desired effect in controlling packaging wastes. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to develop, novel, rapidly-compostable, eco-friendly packaging that is sustainable, but initially, fit-for-purpose for food packaging applications. Fruit processors in Ireland generate by-product wastes as fruit pulp and is usually discarded. A more sustainable use of such material would be to manufacture simple food packaging materials, suitable for fresh bread packaging, which could be subsequently composted for use as plant fertilizers. The Circular- and Bio-Economies have become key strategies for European economic growth, targeting reduction of CO2 emissions, utilizing sustainability conceptions of reusing materials and reducing wastes by utilizing them for new product manufacture. This project addresses these strategies by converting fruit pulp, to biodegradable packaging, to natural plant fertilizers. | 591558 | Euro |
| 7 | 2019 | FIRM | Nutrition, Health & Diet-related disease | Cork Institute of Technology | National Adult Nutrition Survey II | Data will be collected on intake and composition of foods, body weight, lifestyle, food choice, and blood and urine. The data will be analysed to assess compliance of food and nutrient intakes with dietary recommendations, status for key micronutrients, prevalence of overweight and obesity, compliance with physical activity guidelines, and factors affecting food choice and eating behaviour. The overall objective of the study is to establish a nationally representative database on food consumption, lifestyle and health status of adults in Ireland to complement similar recent data on children and teenagers. The database will be an important resource for government agencies concerned with developing healthy eating guidelines and obesity prevention and with food safety risk assessment. It will also be used to underpin new product development and product reformulation in the Irish food industry. | 1241131 | Euro |
| 8 | 2019 | CoFoRD | Forest Protection & Utilisation | University College Dublin | Hydrological and sediment impacts of forestry operations in Ireland | Forestry remains a significant pressure in many watercourses at risk of not meeting their WFD status with sediment release being a recognised stressor in this regard. The recognition of these pressures highlights issues with the adequacy and/or implementation of good management forestry practices. This project assesses flow changes and sediment releases from different forestry operations (afforestation, harvesting, windrowing and reforestation) and the efficacy and performance of commonly adopted sediment mitigation measures. Seven forestry sites with adjacent or nearby lotic waterbodies covering three major soil types (peats, peaty mineral soils and mineral soils) have been identified for study. The study sites have been specifically chosen to reflect the significant role of private forest operators in meeting our national target of 18% forestry land cover by 2046 and where mineral soils as opposed to traditional peats (often in upland catchment fractions) are expected to increasingly underpin the establishment of new forests. Study sites will be extensively instrumented and continuously monitored over a three-year period for rainfall, river discharge and sediment input from the forest block using a ‘paired-catchment’ approach that will facilitate the direct assessment of changes in hydrology and sediment input from forestry activities, with potential influences from any confounding factors being kept to a minimum. Direct measurement of flow and sediment inputs at study sites will be complimented by measures and fingerprinting of deposited sediment in channel bed substrates and the impact of changes and inputs will be related to changed biological status downstream of forest sites. In adding value to the measured datasets, the project will also explore the development and parameterising of hydrological models for the study sites and the integration of LiDAR surveys and hyperspectral imaging as a possible means of assessing changes to forestry drainage networks and the longer-term performance of sediment control measures. | 597505 | Euro |
| 9 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Chain Integrity & Safety | Teagasc | Shelf-life and safety of fermented and smoked foods | Shelf-life and safety of fermented and smoked foods Researchers at Teagasc Food Research Centre (Ashtown), University College Dublin and Technological University Dublin will study the growth of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria under different conditions. The data generated will be used to develop models to predict the safety and shelf-life of a range of fermented and smoked foods including pepperoni, salami, sauerkraut, kefir and smoked salmon. The target bacteria include Listeria monocytogenes, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Clostridium botulinum, Staphylococcus aureus and heat resistant coliforms. In addition to assuring the safety and providing accurate shelf-life determination, research on virulence gene expression, physiochemical and sensory attributes and packaging will provide the scientific basis for safety and shelf-life optimisation. This work will be undertaken in full consultation with relevant stakeholders using commercial recipes and processes. Full training on predictive software application will be provided. | 789995 | Euro |
| 10 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Processing Technology & Engineering | University College Dublin | Assessment of the risk and route of contamination of Bisphenol A (BPA) in Irish origin meat and meat products | Assessment of the risk and route of contamination of Bisphenol A (BPA) in Irish origin meat and meat products The project aims to address the challenge posed by the potential contamination of Irish produced meat products by the toxicant Bisphenol A (BPA) an additive used in the making of plastics and food cans. Recent studies have indicated that levels of BPA were present in some the French produced meat products at levels that could be harmful to consumers. This project will investigate the occurrence of BPA in Irish produced meat products. In addition, at the present time the source of the BPA contamination is unknown the project will also investigate the route by which the contamination occurred. This project will generate information regarding the presence of BPA in the Irish food chain and in commodities destined for export and estimate levels of dietary exposure for Irish consumers. This information will then be used in consultation with industry stakeholders to recommend suitable strategies to minimise or eliminate BPA in meat. | 248304 | Euro |
| 11 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Sensing Nutrients for Agronomic Advice and Sustainability Measures | Agriculture is a pressure on water quality and assessing the right location for mitigation measures on farms without rapid access to biogeochemical and hydro-chemical data will be challenging for sustainability advisors. Likewise, improving nutrient use efficiency across the whole farm requires higher spatial and temporal resolution soil information than our current methods allow. SENSUS will optimize a number of sensor technologies that can be deployed in Irish agricultural landscapes to provide rapid assessment and diagnostic tools for agricultural and sustainability advisors to help them make decisions on the ground. Applications in passive sampling, portable lab-on-a-disk and handheld spectroscopy will be deployed for in situ analysis of soils, sediments and surface waters, in fields and surface drainage networks. Nutrient loss from fields and farm yards can reach small streams and rivers via a network of connecting surface ditches and subsurface drains. SENSUS will map the connectivity to identify the right location for in-ditch mitigation options and deployment of sensor technologies. Connectivity mapping and portable phosphate (lab-on-a-disk) sensors will inform locations for in-ditch mitigation measures and deployment of passive samplers to monitor their effectiveness. Handheld X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry and mid Infra-red spectroscopy will be optimized for soils and sediments to capture nutrient dynamics and soil fertility parameters for agronomic advice. Developing field applications for spectroscopy will be used to collect high spatial and temporal soil and sediment data across the whole farm to improve nutrient use efficiency. Chemometric calibrations for pH, organic matter, particle size and phosphorus sorption properties, will be uploaded onto hand-held spectrometers for agronomic advisors to capture a holistic view of soils and sediment across the farm. Integrating connectivity mapping with rapid diagnostic tools for soil, sediment and water will advance our ability to support nutrient use efficiency and water quality protection. | 599700.25 | Euro |
| 12 | 2019 | CoFoRD | Forest Protection & Utilisation | National University of Ireland Galway | Modular mass timber building for the circular economy | The supply of raw material from Irish forests is predicted to double in the period 2017-2035. In parallel with this, the Government predicts that the population of Ireland will grow by 1 million by 2040 requiring 550,000 new homes to be provided. In addition, supporting infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, retail outlets and industrial buildings, will be required. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to develop infrastructure in a sustainable way accounting for the whole life cycle of the buildings, while an opportunity exists to grow the circular bio-economy by utilising the increased supply of timber in Ireland to satisfy this demand and creating sustainable employment particularly in rural areas. This project will design, develop and test a sustainable modular timber building solution to support national needs while also creating export opportunities in the sector. The proposed modular building solution will maximise the use of Irish timber in cross-laminated panels for walls and floors and will be optimised for structural integrity, fire, acoustics and vibration. Underlying all aspects of the design is ensuring the modules are optimised for future deconstruction and reuse. To achieve this, high-performance connection systems using thermally compressed Irish Sitka spruce will be developed as part of the project, which will significantly reduce adhesive use in the modules. The prefabricated units will be precision-manufactured offsite and will be capable of acting as standalone single- or multi-storey structures, or as extensions to existing buildings to form a larger footprint or additional storeys. Leading-edge researchers at NUI Galway and Cork IT together with five industry partners bring significant experience in timber product design, development and testing, and design and delivery of modular buildings. Unique state-of-the-art testing facilities at NUI Galway and Cork IT will be used in the delivery of the project. | 592067.3 | Euro |
| 13 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Towards an Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research & Innovation Centre | The Food Wise 2025 and Origin Green initiatives aim to increase agricultural production and value, whilst reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability. Conversely EU Climate and Energy Framework targets require large reductions (30%) in absolute emissions. The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for Irish Agriculture has identified a maximum potential abatement of 3 Mt CO2e yr-1 by 2030 (Lanigan et al. 2018). In order to achieve this target, there is an urgent need to incorporate these measures into production systems and encourage uptake measures at a farm level. This requires improved co-ordination between research, advisory and farmers. Many of these measures require the collection of activity data or research to refine the emission factor associated with a given measure in order to incorporate GHG reductions into national inventories. While most measures improve efficiency and directly address nitrous oxide and soil carbon, there is an absence of measures to directly de-couple methane emissions from production. Methane comprises two-thirds of agricultural emissions, with the majority of these emissions associated with the enteric fermentation of carbohydrate in the rumen of bovines and ovines. While there is a large body of research in terms of reducing methane in confinement systems, there is an urgent need to more fully develop mitigation strategies for reducing enteric methane emissions associated with grazed livestock systems and to rapidly incorporate these measures into systems on the ground. This desk study seeks to a) assess current methane mitigation measures associated with enteric fermentation and manure management, b) horizon scan for future avenues of GHG mitigation research, c) compare the approaches of other countries in terms of the co-ordination and funding of agricultural GHG research/outreach and National GHG Centres of Excellence and d) make recommendations in terms of the structure, focus and funding of an Irish Centre of Excellence. | 70988 | Euro |
| 14 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Processing Technology & Engineering | University of Limerick | Development of novel sustainable enzyme-based cleaning-in-place regimes for cheese production | In response to circumstances including increased milk production, changing markets and Brexit, the Irish cheese industry is undergoing significant expansion. Cleaning practices adhere to high quality standards, ensuring safe, flavoursome and nutritious cheeses. However current international cleaning practices are resource-hungry, involving harsh chemicals and large quantities of heated water which challenge sustainability goals. This project will assess the cleaning and sanitation potential in cheese production of commercial biodegradable enzyme-based cleaning agents using lab-, pilot- and industrial-scale characterisation. The project will validate that new cleaning practices will not compromise the flavour, ripening or consistency of a range of cheeses. The outputs will focus on providing documented codes of practice on the minimum enzyme requirements for efficient cleaning of cheese processing facilities to provide an alternative sustainable avenue for cleaning thus assisting the dairy industry in achieving targets set for reduction of carbon footprint and water usage, and improving sustainability. | 577476 | Euro |
| 15 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Development and validation of novel technologies to reduce methane emissions from pasture based Irish agricultural systems | Agriculture is the single largest contributor (~30%) to overall Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland accounting for the majority of methane emissions produced in both jurisdictions primarily due to ruminant livestock production. Methane, a GHG 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is released as a by-product of rumen microbial fermentation and from stored manure and slurry on farm. Under EU legislation, the Republic of Ireland has committed to reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels and in the UK, a reduction of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 has been targeted. Hence there is an urgent requirement for innovative strategies to reduce methane emissions from agriculture on the entire island of Ireland. The aim of this cross-institutional, cross-jurisdictional, multidisciplinary proposal is to develop novel farm-ready technologies to reduce methane emissions from ruminant fermentation and stored manure and slurry. Specifically, we will investigate a number of promising feed additives to mitigate methane emissions from sheep, dairy and beef production, while simultaneously monitoring their effects on animal productivity, and novel technologies to reduce methane losses from stored manures. For pasture-based delivery, technologies for encapsulation to ensure slow release and early-life supplementation strategies will be developed. The effect of these technologies on the nutritional and toxicological composition of meat and milk will be investigated to confirm consumer safety of ruminant products. Sequencing and bioinformatics technologies will allow a fundamental understanding of mechanism of action of these interventions in the rumen and manure. To ensure appropriate implementation, we will develop a new methane additive component for the existing Teagasc Life Cycle (LC) Analysis models to quantify the LC effect of developed technologies on overall methane and GHG emissions. Finally, farm level cost effectiveness will be evaluated through the national farm survey. | 980611 | Euro |
| 16 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Product Development, Formulation & Sensory Science | Teagasc | Innovative food processing and new technological solutions for the design of novel healthy products for the prepared consumer foods sector | As we live in an obesogenic world, foods that generate satiety sensations have benefits for weight management and improved health. InFoTech aims to develop food and beverage formulations with increased satiety modulation for the prepared consumer foods sector, which also have extended shelf-life for exporting to far-reaching international markets. The structure, texture and sensory acceptability of the re-designed products will be fully characterised. Concurrently, microbial safety and in-vitro screening for satiety will be undertaken. Through innovative processing and analytical technologies, this project will build new scientific capability and transferable technologies to the food industry. The combined expertise of the project team will generate a project which goes beyond the current state of the art. This project will strengthen the existing knowledge base in food processing by directly addressing current industry needs and economic risks, which include Brexit, environmental sustainability and consumer health. | 968038 | Euro |
| 17 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Farm Sustainability Tools for Efficient Nutrient management | Low soil fertility levels on Irish farms pose a real threat to meeting environmental sustainability targets in agriculture and achieving resource use efficiency in food production systems. When applied to grassland and crops with suboptimal nutrition, nitrogen (N) fertiliser recovery is usually low (<50%) and can be a major source of nitrous oxide and ammonia gas emissions, and nitrate losses to water. While the input and management of fertilisers and nutrients to agricultural soils is a key driver of productive and economical farming systems these nutrient inputs to soils, especially nitrogen (N), need to be carefully managed to ensure they are not lost to the surrounding environment. Losses of nutrients from soil, particularly N, but also phosphorus (P), present challenges for Ireland as over one-third of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and a significant proportion of losses to water are attributed to this sector. Both Food Wise 2025 and Origin Green initiatives aim to simultaneously increase agricultural production, whilst also reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability associated with food production. Conversely EU Climate and Energy Framework targets require a 30% reduction in emissions. Nitrogen losses from managed agricultural soils have been identified as a key area to achieve these emissions reductions, and offers an opportunity for farmers and the agricultural industry to achiever these sustainability goals The FaSTEN project will develop new knowledge to improve N use efficiency on farms thus reducing the potential for N losses and emissions to the environment. FaSTEN will build new understanding of soils and key technologies for efficient nutrient management and will identify best knowledge transfer methods for primary stakeholders. In addition nutrient management support tools tailored to specific soils, environments and farming systems will be developed to aid farmers and advisory personnel to make sustainable nutrient management decisions and benchmark future success. | 1199737.1 | Euro |
| 18 | 2019 | CoFoRD | Other Forest & Misc | Teagasc | Response of tree species to climate change | The decisions regarding the selection of suitable planting material to establish new forests will play a key role influencing the response and resilience of Irish Forests to future climate change. This research will focus on key species in Irish Forestry to provide up to date information on the best provenances and seed origins adapted for future Irish climatic conditions. The proposals aims to provide critical information to assess the performance and adaptation of key forest tree species to climate change by performing the following key tasks :1-Collecting and analysing data from historical provenance trials to assess the adaptability of various seed origins to environmental change, 2-conduct new experiments to assess the impact of climate parameters on the phenology and physiology of key species of importance to Irish forestry, 3-assess variability in timing bud burst and flowering for key broadleaves tree species, 4-determine if species from biogeographic regions show tolerance to drought events and 5-assess the impact of extreme climatic events on the phenology of known tree species. Running concurrently to these tasks a state of the art climate modelling framework will perform biogeoclimatic envelope modelling, utilise information from tasks to assess the likely impact of rising temperatures, changes in precipitation and the risk of extreme events to inform the predicted response of various key species to various climate change scenarios. To inform our predictions about the likely response of tree species to changing climates and to ensure completeness in species information we aim to utilize information from UK and European species and provenance trials. Finally we aim to assess whether the current range of planted material for Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, birch and alder are suitably adapted for current and warmer climates by incorporation of qualified and tested material into new trials in Ireland and France | 641064 | Euro |
| 19 | 2019 | RSF | Animal Production | University College Dublin | Novel nutritional and management strategies to reduce antimicrobial reliance and antimicrobial resistance on Irish pig farms | The objective of PigNutriStrat is to use a multidisciplinary research approach to develop solutions to prevent and manage multifactorial enteric diseases in pigs as a means of reducing the need for antibiotic use. Reducing infection pressure and optimising gut microbiome, immunity and enzyme secretory capacity will be the focus. In Task 2 we will investigate improved internal biosecurity (improved sanitisation with and without bacterial competitive exclusion) and management practices (stocking density and feeder space allowance) in farrowing and weaner houses as a means of increasing lifetime pig health and productivity and reducing antimicrobial use. Until recently, the main focus on finding alternatives to in-feed antibiotics has been dietary manipulations in pigs post-weaning. However, there are also other strategies that enhance the growth and health of the newly weaned pig. One of these is the use of maternal nutrition during gestation and lactation and this will be investigated in Task 3. Task 4 will assess management (split suckling) and nutritional strategies (supplementary milk to suckling pigs with/without gradual introduction of liquid starter diet and novel non-antibiotic dietary additives). In Task 5 the feeding of supplementary liquid milk replacer and/or liquid starter diet to newly weaned pigs will also be investigated. We will additionally formulate diets to reduce their acid binding capacity and protein content, to help ensure that an acidic gastric environment is ensured immediately post-weaning, thereby ensuring the first barrier to gastric infection is secure. Specific alternatives to antibiotic feeding approaches will be investigated in Task 6. We will link hygiene and biosecurity, management, sow and piglet nutrition, health and antibiotic use to economic outcomes in Task 7. Transfer of knowledge is assured via direct involvement of the Teagasc specialist advisors, SFI BEACON centre, ARMIE theme network and via collaboration with relevant stakeholders in DAFM, veterinarians, pig producers and processors. | 1247592 | Euro |
| 20 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Lowering the carbon and ammonia footprints of pasture-based dairy production | Since phasing out of the milk quota there has been a >50% increase in milk output from dairy farms with a concomitant increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions contrary to national emissions reduction targets. More dairy cattle (cows and replacements) mean more methane, from rumen fermentation, and more nitrous oxide (a very potent GHG) and ammonia emissions from their excreta. National Fertilizer N use has increased, increasing national nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions. There are possibilities for lowering emissions from dairy farms. The objective is to evaluate a Low Carbon & Ammonia (LoCAM) System of milk production. The LoCAM system uses a range of best available 'off the shelf' technologies to halve GHG and ammonia emissions while maintaining current levels of milk output per ha and profitability. This project will involve the assessment of productivity, profitability, nutrient losses to aquatic systems, GHG and ammonia emissions from the LoCAM System compared with standard practice (Control System) and national averages. Both systems consist of 24 dairy cows and replacements. Fertilizer N will not be applied to the LoCAM system and soil N supply will be primarily maintained by biologically fixed N (BFN) from pasture legumes, which has much lower GHG and ammonia emissions than applied fertilizer N, and by efficient recycling of slurry. Methane will be lowered by using high economic breeding index (EBI) cows with traits for high output of milk solids and low replacement rate. External inputs to the LoCAM system will be minimised. Ecosystem carbon dioxide emissions and changes in soil carbon will be measured and modelled. Emission factors for nitrous oxide, methane and ammonia from BFN and carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from reseeding will be determined. The economic and environmental implications of the more widespread adoption of the LoCAM system will be evaluated. | 599820.52 | Euro |
| 21 | 2019 | FIRM | Food Chain Integrity & Safety | National University of Ireland Galway | Genomics to Investigate Risks of Toxin-Producing Vibrio in Irish Shellfish | The marine bacteria Vibrio cause gastroenteritis after consumption of infected shellfish. Due to climate change and warmer marine waters, these bacteria have now extended into Europe, leading the EU to classify Vibrio as emerging pathogens posing a serious threat to human health. Dr Aoife Boyd (NUIG) and Dr Fiona Walsh (MU) will investigate potential risks to shellfish aquaculture and human health in Ireland from pathogenic Vibrio. We will assess environmental effects on presence of toxigenic Vibrio in oysters and mussels. Genomic analysis will identify disease-causing genes of Irish Vibrios. Genes for TTX, a potentially fatal neurotoxin recently discovered in European shellfish, will be targeted for developing novel DNA detection methods. This project will help sustain and grow Irish shellfish production, by assessing current and forthcoming risks of pathogenic Vibrio. This knowledge will minimise contaminated shellfish reaching the market and table, reduce cases of seafood-borne gastroenteritis and increase human wellbeing. | 196560 | Euro |
| 22 | 2019 | CoFoRD | Other Forest & Misc | Waterford Institute of Technology | Digitalisation in agriculture and forestry through data security | Digitalisation in agriculture and forestry through data security (AgriDISCRETE) will address multifaceted challenges related to data use, data security, data sharing and data ownership in the application of digital technologies in agricultural and forestry sectors in Ireland. Bringing together an interdisciplinary research team comprised of data scientists, business scholars, and social/behavioural scientists, the AgriDISCRETE project ensures a holistic approach to considering both the technical and the socio-economic and ethical challenges introduced by data usage and sharing in agriculture and forestry. Five integrated tasks will facilitate the research team to map current technological challenges, identify diverse stakeholder concerns, and develop societally-acceptable technological solutions and social responses. The project will develop practical strategies, tools and solutions that can be used by policy-makers, researchers and innovators to ensure good data governance and responsible data sharing. Embedding a multi-actor approach,AgriDISCRETE aims to inform good data governance practices within Irish agriculture and forestry so that the benefits of digitalisation for agriculture and forestry in Ireland can be realised in a trajectory which is responsible and societally acceptable. | 347996 | Euro |
| 23 | 2019 | FIRM | Nutrition, Health & Diet-related disease | Teagasc | Food based dietary guidelines for sustainable and healthy lifestyles. | Substantial consumer behaviour changes are required to reduce the environmental impact of feeding the growing global population. SuHeGuide will undertake a range of consumer studies from food consumption to sustainable behaviours in the context of sustainable and healthy food lives. In a first-of-its-kind dietary intervention study, we will test the hypothesis that a sustainable diet, which is acceptable to consumers, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while simultaneously achieving nutritional requirements, thereby providing an effective solution to the sustainability and food challenge. SuHeGuide will develop food-based dietary guidelines for healthy and sustainable lifestyles that are acceptable to consumers and meet nutritional requirements, while simultaneously, reducing food related GHG emissions and respectful of biodiversity. These outputs | 961235 | Euro |
| 24 | 2019 | RSF | Animal Production | Teagasc | Optimised breeding program for efficient and quality beef from dairy herds | The expanding Irish dairy herd, coupled with improving reproductive performance, is resulting in a greater proportion of slaughtered cattle originating from dairy herds; these include both purebred dairy animals but also beef-sired germplasm from dairy dams. Although breeding programs are already in place for both dairy and beef cattle, these breeding programs have heretofore operated in isolation. The objective of Dairy4Beef is to develop an optimum dairy-beef breeding program by: 1) developing further the new dairy-beef index just launched nationally by the project team, 2) establish production blueprints for dairy-beef cattle divergent in genetic potential for age at slaughter, 3) understanding, and where necessary and feasible, rectifying the impact of the national dairy cow breeding program on the carcass merit of dairy-beef animals, 4) using genomic technologies to enhance the dairy-beef breeding program, 5) designing the optimal breeding scheme to produce genetically elite beef sires for the dairy herd, and 6) generating and deploying management aids to support more informed value-creating decisions. The objectives will be achieved through a combination of data analytical techniques of the national phenotypic and genomic database, coupled with a globally novel controlled experimental study comparing animals genetically similar on carcass merit but divergent in genetic merit for age at slaughter. Tangible outcomes includes a clear roadmap for the expanding dairy-beef population based on a combination of optimized production systems coupled with an efficient and effective national breeding scheme underpinning a bespoke national breeding index designed to provide a balance between the desires of the dairy and beef farmers. A 0.22 standard deviation change in the dairy-beef index is worth €25.6m annually which is cumulative and permanent indicating a 25:1 return on investment based on just one year of genetic gain. | 993689 | Euro |
| 25 | 2019 | RSF | Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | Teagasc | Abating Ammonia in Agriculture | The National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive (2001/81/EC) and Gothenburg Protocol (UNECE, 1999) places limits on ammonia emissions, with agriculture comprising 98% of national emissions. The majority of these emissions (>80%) arise from animal housing/storage and the land-spreading of animal manures. Revisions to the NEC Directive under the EU Clean Air Package will require Ireland to limit ammonia to 112kT per annum between 2020 and 2030 and 107.6kT per annum post-2030. However, the Food Wise 2025 initiative, combined with the abolishment of milk quotas has resulted in the rapid expansion of the dairy sector and this has resulted in Ireland breaching NEC Directive limits since 2016 (EPA 2018). In the absence of abatement strategies, ammonia emissions are forecast to increase which may result either in substantial fines or the imposition of a de-facto quota based on emission levels. Furthermore, large point-sources of ammonia are a threat to adjacent to vulnerable peatland and heathland habitats. Increases in ammonia-N deposition may result in critical load exceedance in contravention of the Habitats Directive. As a result, the abatement of these emissions is of vital sectoral and national importance. This project seeks to quantify the abatement potential of a range of measures associated with the storage and land-spreading of bovine slurry and generate the associated national emission factors for each option for inclusion in Ireland’s national ammonia inventories. These measures will include the chemical amendment of slurries as well as a range of low-emission spreading technologies. The regional impact of sectoral expansion on critical N loading to vulnerable ecosystems as well as the potential impact of abatement measures will be also assessed. Ultimately, the objective of this project is to quantify a low ammonia emissions trajectory for agriculture and decouple as far as possible ammonia losses from agricultural production. | 784187 | Euro |