21 February 2023

€4.2 million announced for 19 new policy-focused research projects

Awards of over €4.2 million for 19 short-term research projects that look specifically at emerging policy and strategic needs of the agri-food, forest and bio-economy sectors were today announced

The 19 successful projects, involving a total of 12 research organisations, cover a wide range of topics including: climate adaptation; plant health regulation and pesticides; forestry; animal health and welfare; the bioeconomy; and women in farming. Teagasc will be the lead institute on seven of these projects and will collaborate on a further three.

The funding was awarded as part of the Strategic Studies Research Call (PSSRC), which was launched by the Department in 2022 as a funding instrument to support evidence-based research which is an integral element in the formation of public policy.

Speaking on the announcement of the awards, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon said: “It is vital that public policy in the agri-food sector is informed by scientific evidence and knowledge. The work that will be carried out in these projects will contribute directly to the delivery of strategic research and policy actions across a range of priority areas included in the Programme for Government, Food Vision 2030, the Climate Action Plan and elsewhere.”

Concluding, Minister Heydon said: “I want to congratulate the researchers involved in these 19 projects for securing funding from what was a competitive call with a rigorous evaluation process. I wish them well in their work and look forward to seeing the results contribute to the development of policies and programmes led by my Department.”

The full list of PSSRC 2022 funded projects is available here