Teagasc has officially marked the start of construction on the Padraig Walshe Centre for sustainable animal and grassland research at Moorepark.

The new centre will provide new laboratory and animal metabolism facilities to enable the delivery of practical solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A €6m contribution made by FBD Holdings plc, FBD Trust CLG and Farmer Business Developments plc matched by €6m funding provided by the Department of Agriculture will support the development of the new centre, which will be named in honour of the late Padraig Walshe.

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Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon TD said: “I welcome the start of construction at Moorepark and thank FBD and its partners for their significant support for public sector research.

"This facility will strengthen Ireland’s capacity to develop and deliver practical solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses while protecting farm incomes and competitiveness. The work here will be central to meeting our climate and water quality objectives and to ensuring a sustainable future for our agri-food sector.”

Research

FBD Trust CLG chair Michael Berkery said that the research at Moorepark aligns with the trust’s objectives to advance the interests of Irish farm families and the wider farming sector, delivering practical benefits for sustainable farming.

The research enabled by this centre, chief executive of FBD Holdings plc Tómas Ó Midheach said, will help advance climate related solutions for farming.

"At FBD Insurance, we believe it is essential to support practical, science-based work that helps farmers meet the emissions reduction challenges ahead," he said.

Echoing these remarks was chair of Farmer Business Developments plc Pat Murphy, who said that the plc is proud that the centre will bear the name of their late colleague Padraig Walshe.

Padraig, he said, was a pioneering grass-based dairy farmer who championed innovation and research.

"It is fitting that this facility will carry forward that legacy," he added.

Teagasc director Professor Frank O’Mara said that the new laboratory and animal metabolism facilities will allow Teagasc to undertake the mechanistic, in-depth research needed to develop solutions that are suitable for widespread adoption in grass-based systems.

"This new centre creates the capacity for mission-critical studies that will deliver tangible benefits to farmers, industry and policy makers, helping to reduce emissions, improve nutrient efficiency and productivity and support a competitive and sustainable agri-food sector in Ireland.”

The design contract was awarded to CJ Falconer and Associates Architects. Conack Construction has been awarded the contract to construct the laboratory building and Donnelly Civil Engineering Limited will construct the animal metabolism facility.