A number of exciting research projects in the the Ag sector received funding from the Department of Agriculture on Thursday. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed announced awards of over €28m for 43 collaborative inter-institutional research projects under the Department’s competitive research funding programmes.

“Today’s research funding announcement, coupled with other initiatives announced recently, will make a significant contribution to the sustainability, innovation and competitiveness of the Irish agri-food, forestry and marine sectors while also adding to research capability at the institutional level,” Creed said at the announcement in the Department of Agriculture offices in Dublin.

The projects cover a number of key overarching themes including; sustainable food production and processing; managing for environmental protection and enhancement; sustainable forest management; delivering food safety and food quality; and food for improved nutrition and health.

The 43 awards involve collaborations between 19 different institutions and organisations including Teagasc, a number of our universities and our institutes of technology.

The investment will also not only investigate new technology in Irish farming, but also employ 186 people including 65 contract researchers and 83 post graduate research opportunities in the form of PhDs (66) and Masters degrees (17).

Northern Ireland

The Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland, Michelle McIlveen, also announced funding of over €2m to aid three Northern Irish research institutions participate in seven of the projects.

"Today’s research awards brings the total investment made by my Department over the last five years to just over €124m," Creed said. "This research is a key component in delivering on the ambitious targets set out in the Food Wise 2025 and the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.”

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