23 June 2024
‘Back to basics’ approach of farming in The Burren article acts as a catalyst for UN visit to the West
On his recent visit to Ireland, the Director-General of the United Nations FAO, Mr Qu Dongyu took a trip with his delegation to the West of Ireland to observe sustainable farming in the Burren.
The initial contact from the UN FAO was made via Anne Kinsella, Teagasc Research Economist, all stemming from a RTE Brainstorm article authored by Anne titled: ‘The successful ‘back to basics’ approach of farming in The Burren’, which the UN FAO had sourced and were most taken in with, and as a result made direct contact with Anne.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visits Polnabrone Dolmen. Pictured from left to right are: Anne Kinsella, Teagasc; FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu; Dr. Brendan Dunford, Burren expert; and Deputy Director of Cabinet, Hua Yang. Photo credit: ©FAO/Karl Burke. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
Subsequently, Anne was further engaged in assisting the FAO with the programme of events, putting forth ideas for field visits and local experts. She liaised with the FAO and with colleagues in the international development unit at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, culminating in a successful visit to a number of locations in Co. Galway and Co. Clare. In addition, he visited Kellys Oyster farm, the University of Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.
At Kellys Oyster Farm, located in a small inlet on Galway Bay, Mr Qu Dongyu and his team were greeted by owner Diarmuid Kelly; Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute; and Anne Kinsella, Teagasc. Dr Brendan Dunford accompanied the group on their onward tour of the Burren, where Brendan showcased the unique landscape and gave an informative overview of the unique flora and sustainable farming in the region.
Local artisan food producers showcased West of Ireland local produce from the land to the sea. A selection of local award winning cheeses, McGeogh’s dry cured meats, Hazel mountain chocolate, Achill island salts were all included in a hamper put together by Teresa Roche of Kylemore Cheese.
Recent visits are testament to the impact of Teagasc research and articles published in popular press and magazines, in addition to peer-reviewed publications, and the reach such articles have. The FAO Director-General in his remarks recommended that a proposal be submitted to have the Burren habitat be designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site.
Since studying in UCD, the Burren, its landscape and sustainable farming, has been to the fore of research undertaken by Anne Kinsella and is an interdisciplinary research area very close to her heart. Her thesis investigated regional specific environmental policies in which she undertook a case study in the Burren.
On joining Teagasc, she was a member of steering committee for the award-winning BurrenLIFE project, a project that developed a new model for the sustainable agricultural management of the priority habitats of the region. The project developed an evidence-based approach to managing species-rich grasslands, other limestone habitats and water quality as part of livestock systems. It was selected as one of the ‘Best of the Best’ nature projects from the LIFE Programme, a project instrumental in informing the development of existing and future agri-environmental policy and schemes and became a template for the advancement of future research. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development used the project as an example to guide future European Innovation Partnerships.
For more information, see the RTE Brainstorm article here.
The RTE Brainstorm article originated from an article originally published in TResearch, access the article here.