TResearch
2023
Lake-side view Lakes and wetlands are incredibly diverse and host an amazing world of animals, plants and other organisms, making them a hot spot for biodiversity. These habitats also provide additional ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and carbon storage; flood mitigation; pollination; and water quality benefits. The FARM ECOS project has undertaken […]
Digitally measuring meat Researchers at Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, are investigating how effectively optical sensors and machine learning can be used to monitor the quality of processed meats and meat alternatives. Processed meats represent a significant portion of the human diet. Numbers show that global meat consumption has risen steadily from […]
Catch-all Solution The Agricultural Catchments Programme is in a unique position to assess and inform policy. Here, Research Officers Bridget Lynch, Michele McCormack and Ognjen Zurovec and Programme Advisor Mark Boland tell us about the programme’s vital, multidisciplinary work. Can you explain the history of the ACP team within Teagasc? Bridget: The […]
Sharpening the sward At Teagasc Athenry, researchers have been investigating the use of mixed swards in pasture-based sheep production systems. The results suggest increased diversity may be beneficial for animal performance. Grass measuring in a perennial ryegrass and chicory sward In recent years, there has been growing interest in the inclusion of […]
In with the new, out with the nutrients As head of water quality research for the ACP, Senior Research Officer Per-Erik Mellander is advancing vital knowledge in how water quality is impacted by agriculture and a changing climate. Lower Lake, Johnstown Castle Estate A hydrologist by training, Per-Erik Mellander is far from […]
Estimating farm accident levels in Ireland Data collected by the Teagasc National Farm Survey examines the prevalence of farm accidents in Ireland. Consistent data collection helps provide realistic estimates, which further helps inform the most relevant safety practices. The Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) has been conducting farm accident surveys in Ireland […]
Achieving sustainable workloads on dairy farms Understanding labour time-use on dairy farms is key to identifying strategies to reduce labour demand and establishing sustainable workloads. Dairy production systems have an unbalanced workload due to calving patterns. Implementing labour efficiency practices may be key to combatting unsustainable workloads In recent years, Irish dairy […]
Where farming and biodiversity unite The BurrenLIFE project, which ran between 2005 and 2010, developed a new model for the sustainable agricultural management of the priority habitats of the Burren region. It is a project regarded by many as an emblematic ‘LIFE’ nature project. Famous for its exposed limestone landscape and rich […]
CSI Listeria: Investigating foodborne pathogens A multi-institute consortium, led by Teagasc, has sought to understand the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes in foods by studying a collection of isolates from foods and food processing environments in Ireland. The research team found that not all isolates are created equal, raising the question: should they […]
Healthy diet, healthy body, healthy planet Research is ongoing to identify healthy eating guidelines for sustainable diets that are beneficial for both personal and planetary health. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) have been developed for more than 100 countries worldwide. FBDG identify the type and balance of foods to consume for a healthy […]