Taoiseach visits Teagasc research exhibits at Global Bioeconomy Summit
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, visited the Teagasc exhibition stand at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 in Dublin, today (Wednesday, 21 October), where he learned about Teagasc research and innovation supporting the development of a sustainable and circular bioeconomy in Ireland
Pictured at the Teagasc exhibition stand at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 in Dublin, were: An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD.; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD; Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’Mara, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with Responsibility for Research, Noel Grealish TD.
The Taoiseach was accompanied by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD and Minister of State, Noel Grealish TD. They met with Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara, Head of the Teagasc Food Research Programme, Professor Mark Fenelon, and Senior Research Officer in Teagasc, Dr Órlaith Ní Choncubhair. Dr Ní Choncubhair is also a member of the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB), the international body responsible for initiating, designing, and organising the Global Bioeconomy Summit.
During the visit, the Taoiseach and Ministers were shown examples of how Teagasc research is developing new opportunities to produce sustainable, high-value food ingredients from crops such as faba beans and lupins. The display included samples of protein concentrates, protein isolates, flours, and fibres, demonstrating how different components of these crops can be processed into valuable ingredients for food production.
This research is supported by specialist fractionation infrastructure at Teagasc, funded by Enterprise Ireland, which enables researchers to separate and recover valuable components from plant materials.
European Commissioner Visit
The Teagasc stand was also visited by European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, accompanied by Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport. Commissioner Roswall was introduced to Teagasc’s research on developing sustainable, high-value food ingredients from plant proteins.
The exhibits highlighted research undertaken through the U-Protein and VALPRO Path projects. The U-Protein project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and coordinated by Teagasc, explored opportunities to develop sustainable protein ingredients from crops and marine resources, while investigating how associated biomass and processing side streams could be converted into valuable bio-based products.
The VALPRO Path project, funded through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and coordinated by Teagasc, is developing and demonstrating innovative approaches to increasing sustainable plant protein production across Europe. Through new value chains and business models, the project aims to create opportunities for farmers and the wider agri-food sector, while reducing Europe’s dependence on imported protein.
Separately, at the Government of Ireland stand, the Taoiseach met with Teagasc researcher Shay Hannon, who presented the AIMBIO project, an all-island initiative led by Teagasc and funded through the Government’s Shared Island Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative. The project brings together partners from across the island of Ireland to develop marine biorefineries, which turn seafood by-products and other marine biomass into ingredients for food, feed, and other bio-based uses. The aim is to reduce waste, create added value for coastal and seafood businesses, and build a circular blue bioeconomy on an all-island basis.
Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Taoiseach and Ministers Heydon, Grealish and O Brien along with Commissioner Jessika Roswall, to our stand today. Projects such as U-Protein, VALPRO Path and AIMBIO demonstrate how Teagasc research, working with national and international partners, is developing new opportunities to produce high-value ingredients and products from biological resources. This work has the potential to create new markets and opportunities for Irish farmers and food businesses, while making better use of our natural resources.”
The Global Bioeconomy Summit, taking place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 20th and 21st October, brings together international leaders in policy, research, industry and innovation to explore how the bioeconomy can contribute to sustainable economic development, climate action and food security.
The Summit is being held in Ireland during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is organised by the IACGB in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment.
Further information: