Teagasc has highlighted the impact of its research achieved in 2024 in a new publication called ‘Teagasc Research Impact Highlights in 2024’. As with all public spending, it is both desirable and necessary to show value for money and articulate the impact of investment in scientific research. This publication demonstrates the huge benefits of investment of public funds on scientific research to the Irish agri-food sector. This publication showcases 20 case studies highlighting some of these new impacts achieved in 2024.
Teagasc’s Director of Research, Professor Pat Dillon, says: “Teagasc is extremely fortunate to have an outstanding core of scientists, supported by top-class technical, farm, advisory, specialist and administration staff, whose work contributes to our collective research output”.
Some of the examples from the Teagasc ‘Research Impact Highlights in 2024’ are outlined below:
Forecasting grass growth for farmers
Weekly grass growth can be highly variable and, with climate change, is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The Moorepark St Giles Grass Growth model (MoSt GG) was developed by Dr Elodie Ruelle and colleagues and calibrated using Irish weather and soil data to capture variability in grass growth across different conditions. Since 2019, it has been used to predict grass growth on commercial grassland farms and, since 2020, its forecasts have featured on national television via the RTÉ Farming Forecast. In 2024, a major step forward was taken with its integration into PastureBase Ireland, a national online decision-support tool used by over seven thousand grassland farmers to implement best grassland management practices in 2024.
Underreporting injuries hampers farm safety
Farm injuries are significantly underreported across Ireland and the EU, limiting the effectiveness of safety policies. As part of the EU-funded SafeHabitus project, Teagasc researchers, Drs David Meredith, John McNamara, and Diana van Doorn, highlighted gaps in current data and proposed key safety indicators for inclusion in the EU Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) survey. These include the number of work-related injuries, presence of a farm safety plan, and provision of safety training. Engaging with EU policymakers and partners across 11 member states, the project successfully secured agreement to include these indicators in the FSDN from 2025. This marks the first EU-wide standardised system for monitoring farm injuries among self-employed farmers, demonstrating how research-driven advocacy can bridge policy gaps, ultimately enhancing safety standards for agricultural workers across Europe.
Protected urea: reducing emissions while sustaining production
Using protected urea (PU) in place of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is an important greenhouse gas emission reduction technology for the Irish agriculture sector. Protected urea use has been steadily growing, from about 10% in 2021 to 26% in 2024, but this needs to increase significantly more if agriculture is going to meet its climate carbon reduction targets by 2030.
Challenging weather conditions in 2024 led to questions from farmers and the agricultural sector regarding yield performance of PU. A long-term fertiliser nitrogen (N) field trial at Teagasc Johnstown Castle, by Mark Plunkett, Dr Patrick Forrestal, and colleagues, compared different fertiliser combinations over 10 years. The results showed similar yields were achieved using the tested protected urea products and for CAN – including in 2024. These results were widely communicated to the agricultural industry by Teagasc staff to give reassurance to farmers using PU products.
Food products for patients with dysphagia
The National Prepared Consumer Food Centre, Teagasc Ashtown, played a pivotal role in supporting innovative start-up company Ocras in the development of texture-modified foods for dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) that are safe, nutritionally adequate, and visually appealing. The partnership, led by manager of the National Prepared Consumer Food Centre, Shay Hannon, ensured the successful commercialisation of a range of unique products. The company has secured contracts with the Health Service Executive in Ireland, and care homes and is in discussions with the National Health Service to expand its offerings into the UK market.
Ocras’ innovative approach to food and packaging design has enhanced the quality of life for individuals with swallowing difficulties while promoting sustainability through waste reduction.
Professor Dillon concludes: “I would like to acknowledge our collaborators in universities and other external bodies, including the farming community and agri-food companies, who are directly involved in many of our research projects. I would also like to highlight the Teagasc Walsh Scholars and post-doctoral fellows, whose contribution to our ongoing research activities is invaluable”.
View the full list of highlights across Teagasc’s research programme in the Teagasc Research Impact Highlights in 2024 publication at this link: https://teagasc.ie/about/research--innovation/research-impact-highlights/
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