TResearch
2025
At the VistaMilk research centre, based at Teagasc Moorepark, researchers are examining how engaged research can improve results for end-users. Picture this: you are a dairy farmer with a keen interest in promoting sustainability and animal welfare on your farm. You always track the latest research and are excited to read an article about a […]
As the human body ages, our dietary requirements shift. The SO-PLANTS project at Teagasc Moorepark’s Food Research Centre is studying the benefits of plant-based foods to help this transition. In 2022, there were 768,900 people over the age of 65 living in Ireland. This population is predicted to double to 1.6 million by 2051. As […]
Ireland has the potential to remain a global player in brewing and distilling, but this will require significant focus on the use of Irish grain, explains John Spink, Head of Teagasc’s Crop, Environment and Land Use Programme and Director of the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling. Ireland produces very high-quality, high-yielding cereal crops […]
Teagasc’s researchers attend many events throughout the year, sharing the findings from their research with national and international audiences. Here, we capture the take-home messages – key pieces of information that our researchers want people to remember – from recent events. In this issue we focus on science communications and engaged research. Playing for […]
One of the initiatives at the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling is to provide new insights into the production of malting barley. As well as examining how production can be made more sustainable, researchers are looking at optimising the steeping and germination processes, identifying new malting barley varieties, and exploring opportunities for the use […]
Securing farm futures Low pension coverage and late retirement are stalling generational renewal. New research compares EU systems to explore solutions for supporting Irish farmers through the retirement transition. The sustainability of agriculture in Europe is deeply intertwined with the financial wellbeing of its farmers, particularly concerning retirement provisions. As the farming […]
Think before you till A new study reveals the conditions under which Irish tillage growers adopt innovations. Research highlights that peer-to-peer exchange is a highly valuable knowledge source for Irish growers, especially plough-based growers. Credit: Oleg Marchak/istockphoto.com Most Irish tillage farmers won’t adopt a new practice unless they see proof that it […]
Leaf it to science As climate change reshapes growing conditions, Irish forests must adapt. New research explores how species choice, genetic diversity, and forest management can help build resilience from the roots up. Continuous cover forestry systems are close to nature forests and allow newly regenerated seedlings to prosper under the cover […]
Interview: Seeing the forest for trees Forestry Senior Research Officer Ian Short talks us through recent advances in closer-to-nature forestry, and why agroforestry means more than just land grants for growers. Ian appreciates seeing agroforestry and Continuous Cover Forestry enjoy a “renaissance” as increasingly valid approaches in recent years. Photography: Finbarr O’Rourke […]
Milking the data Leveraging data from technologies offers farmers a unique opportunity to enhance the productivity, sustainability and welfare of Irish pasture-based systems. Credit: MSD Animal Health Cows that show signs of heat before the breeding season are significantly more likely to become pregnant, a finding that’s helping farmers in seasonal-calving systems […]