Articles
A message from Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc
As 2025 draws to a close, the quieter days ahead offer a welcome opportunity to pause, reflect on the year outgoing and prepare for the opportunities and challenges that await in 2026.
25 December 2025
Christmas feasts without the food waste
The festive season is a time of celebration, generosity and shared meals, but it also brings a sharp increase in food waste. Angelo Gelatalo, Food Technologist at Ashtown Food Research Centre, explores how we can reduce food waste at this time of year.
23 December 2025
A closer look at Brussels sprouts
A vegetable that often divides opinion, William Deasy, Specialised Vegetable Advisor, takes a closer look at the much loved or loathed vegetable - the Brussels sprout.
22 December 2025
Poinsettia: The vintage Christmas flower
Behind the vintage Christmas plant decorating your home is a high‑tech nursery business operating on thin margins. As part of a recently published RTÉ Brainstorm article, Dónall Flanagan, Teagasc Nursery Stock Advisor, delved into poinsettia production in Ireland.
21 December 2025
An Appreciation of Our Native Holly
Holly (Ilex aquilium) is one of our most familiar and easily recognisable native trees and has deep roots in Irish folklore and Celtic tradition. Tom Houlihan, Teagasc Forestry Development Department, tells us some more about this popular native tree species.
20 December 2025
Not all potatoes are equal
Potatoes are one of the world’s most popular foods, loved for their versatility. In Ireland, they hold a special place on the plate, and no Christmas dinner is complete without them. Rose Edwin, Food Programme Communications Officer, digs into the research to see how the way we cook potatoes affects what our bodies absorb.
20 December 2025
From farmyard to festive table – Christmas ham
For many Irish households, Christmas dinner wouldn’t feel complete without a glazed ham sharing centre stage with the turkey. Ciarán Carroll describes the journey of your Christmas ham, from farm to fork.
19 December 2025
Turkey production in Ireland for Christmas
As we approach Christmas, Rebecca Tierney, Poultry Advisor, explores Irish turkey production ahead of the festive season.
18 December 2025