FRS Co-Op and VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre have signed a new collaboration agreement to support a PhD doctorate to investigate employment dynamics in Irish dairy farming with a focus on people, productivity, technology and generational renewal.

The multi-year PhD programme will involve dedicated research to understand how employee experiences, farm-level human resource management practices, and technology use interact on Irish dairy farms. Importantly, the PhD research will also examine the economic contribution of hired labour of Irish dairy farms; not simply as a cost, but as a strategic input that can drive productivity and profitability.

The research for the PhD thesis will be overseen through the VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre, which is hosted by Teagasc at its Moorepark campus in Cork, while the funding for the PhD programme is being provided by FRS Co-Op, which specialises in employment, recruitment and training services.

The new PhD doctorate will focus on understanding the evolving nature of employment on Irish dairy farms. The research will examine the experiences and challenges faced by employees, how workforce management practices are influencing farm performance, and the ways in which new technologies can help make the sector a more attractive place to work. It will also evaluate the broader economic contribution of employed labour to dairy farms.

Announced at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, Head of Agriculture at FRS Co-Op, Neil Keane said: “FRS Co-Op is delighted to partner with VistaMilk to support this important PhD research work. The expansion of Irish dairy over the last decade has seen many farms become increasingly reliant on employed labour to handle the increased workload. However, the economic value of employed labour is often underappreciated and generally framed as a cost to be minimised on farms.”

“As the largest employer of farm labour in all of Europe, FRS Co-Op is uniquely positioned to help support this important research, which will help Irish dairy farms attract, manage, and retain a skilled and motivated workforce into the future.”

“Attracting, developing and retaining skilled people is vital to strengthen competitiveness, enhance farming’s attractiveness as a career, and secure the long-term environmental sustainability sector,” Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, said at the announcement.

“We are delighted to be partnering with FRS Co-Op on this PhD doctorate to examine employment dynamics in Irish dairy farming. Farms have changed significantly in recent decades as scale has increased, seasonal labour demands have intensified, and workplace expectations continue to evolve,” Professor O’Mara added.

This collaboration, Professor Donagh Berry, Director of VistaMilk, said: “highlights the vital role of people in the future of Irish dairy farming – a critical but often overlooked dimension.

“By exploring how workforce practices and technology interact, this PhD will deliver evidence-based insights to help farms improve productivity, job satisfaction and long-term sustainability,” Professor Berry added.

Also speaking at the announcement, Francis Fitzgerald, Chairman of FRS Co-Op, said: “At a time when Irish agriculture is seeking to improve generation renewal on farms, the PhD collaboration between FRS Co-Op and VistaMilk will provide peer-reviewed research insights that will help improve employment conditions on farms, support career progression and aid farmers in the adoption of human resource management practices.”

“Farming is an extremely attractive career that offers people the chance to work outdoors with animals and nature, while affording an excellent quality of life. I’m delighted that FRS Co-Op are partnering with VistaMilk on this PhD as it will help inform how we continue to attract a new generation into farming.”

The schedule of research work for the PhD doctorate will commence in Q4 2025 with a final thesis expected to be published by 2029.

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