It features Teagasc’s research and how it has influenced the agri-food industry in Ireland and further afield. Director of Research, Teagasc, Dr. Frank O’Mara: “This document is a collection of some of the highlights of where Teagasc research has impacted positively on the agri-food industry in 2013. While our researchers published over 400 A1 scientific papers in 2013, as an organisation that conducts mainly applied research, we work hard to ensure our research programmes will have impact and are relevant to the Irish agricultural and food sectors. These 20 highlights of some recent impacts of our research show that the investment in research in Teagasc does pay dividends.”

One of the areas of research highlighted in the document is a new cheese technology platform. This allows the manufacture of cheese from reassembled milks formulated from dairy ingredients. Due to this, the Irish Dairy Board has recently invested €20 million in Saudi Arabia, relating to development of white cheese and other cheese products.

Another area of research outlined in the document is Teagasc’s developed expertise in gluten-free food products. Teagasc has liaised with a number of bakeries to ensure development and launch of new high-quality gluten-free products to the Irish market. Novel gluten-free breads, with good texture and flavour, and confectionery-type products, have been developed.

Teagasc researched the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform agreement and its effect on Irish agriculture. The findings were provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine during reform negotiations, contributing to the completion of the CAP reform under the Irish EU presidency in 2013.

Sexed semen may be one of the most influential advances in technology to be introduced to Irish farms in 2014. Sexed semen allows farmers to control the sex of calves born to their cows; it also has great benefits for the dairy industry and beef industry. Teagasc conducted possibly the largest field research trial in 2013 using 15,000 straws.

Teagasc, in collaboration with the ICBF and Weatherbys, developed the International Dairy and Beef (IDB) SNP chip, a new genotyping platform (SNP chip), for use in dairy and beef cattle breeding. This chip allows for more accurate genetic evaluations at a low cost.

The Teagasc potato breeding programme resulted in two new potato varieties, Bikini and Casino.

Teagasc made a science-based submission to the review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) in 2013 which resulted in several changes to the NAP, including increases in phosphorus allowances, a change in the definition of soiled water, controlled application of herbicides during the closed period for certain crops, and increased nitrogen allowance for winter barley.

The impacts featured come from research funded through Teagasc Grant-in-Aid, Department of Agriculture FIRM and Stimulus programmes, Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, the EU, the Dairy Levy, and a number of agri-food companies. The research was conducted in collaboration with many Irish and international partners. The document can be accessed on the Teagasc website, through the following link: http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/view_publication.aspx?publicationID=3241