19 August 2024
Events: my take-home message
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.
Event: Teagasc Forestry Open Day, at Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow
Date: 4 July 2024
Protecting our native tree species is important for preserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem services, and ensuring the resilience of our forests in the face of climate change. Nearly 300 forest owners, foresters, and industry stakeholders attended the recent Forestry Open Day, where Teagasc Forestry Research Officer and event co-organiser Dheeraj Rathore emphasised the importance of tree improvement and breeding initiatives. He outlined priorities, including the development of tree species adapted to Irish climatic conditions, and highlighted ongoing projects aimed at enhancing resilience against pests and pathogens in broadleaf species such as ash, alder, and elm. “These efforts are crucial to sustain future productivity, maintain genetic diversity, and ensure ecosystem stability, thereby enhancing tree resilience in response to climate change,” says Dheeraj.
Dheeraj encouraged attendees to report healthy ash trees to aid in identifying resilient specimens and safeguarding these species for future generations. Dheeraj explains: “By joining the AshforFuture Research Project, you play a crucial part in safeguarding our beloved ash trees! Your involvement helps protect genetic diversity, accelerates selection for resilient trees, and contributes to building a comprehensive database for easier identification and conservation efforts.” Follow the link for more information on how to contribute and save our ash trees: Report a healthy ash tree
Dheeraj Rathore presenting at the Forestry Open Day. Photo credit: Tony Keane
Culturing engagement with fermented foods stakeholders
Event: Living Labs stakeholder event hosted by the DOMINO project
Date: 16 July 2024
Fermented foods have the potential to meet consumer expectations for healthier and more sustainable foods, but there is a need to demonstrate their health impacts scientifically. DOMINO is a Horizon Europe-funded Research Innovation Action, which is investigating the health impacts of consuming fermented foods, as well as developing novel plant-based fermented foods which address the changing societal demands for healthier and more sustainable nourishment.
Living Labs are defined as “settings for experimentation and testing of solutions to sustainability challenges in collaboration with various actors”. As part of DOMINO, a Living Lab event was hosted in Teagasc Ashtown by Sinéad McCarthy and John Kenny to engage with relevant fermented food stakeholders (including researchers, producers, SMEs, policy makers and regulators). In breakout sessions, attendees discussed the opportunities and challenges in product development, future impact and sustainability across the food system.
Sinéad explains: “This stakeholder engagement enables the researchers to identify the knowledge gaps in the sector, where the project can support fermented food producers through research and access to new technologies, while also enhancing the relevance of outputs from the DOMINO project.”
John adds: “The Living Labs are being conducted in five other DOMINO partner organisations across Europe and the results used to ensure co-creation across the research project with insights for both the domestic and export markets.”
Sinéad McCarthy addresses the Living Lab audience. Photo credit: Teagasc
Don’t miss out on Teagasc’s upcoming events! Join us at Ashtown on October 10 for Biocircularity in Action Summit – Opportunities within Sustainable and Circular Food Systems. Our Climate Adaptation Conference takes place in Moorepark on October 15. The Dairy Calf-to-Beef International Conference will take place at Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford on October 16 & 17.
Visit Teagasc.ie for more information.