Jack Perry, a PhD student in Teagasc’s Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme, has been awarded the 2026 Walsh Scholars Gold Medal, the highest honour presented to a postgraduate student within the Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme.

The award was presented on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, at the Walsh Scholars of the Year and Gold Medal Awards Ceremony at Teagasc Ashtown, held as part of Teagasc’s celebration of the inaugural European Doctoral Day.

Jack’s PhD research focused on improving the management of aphids and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), a major threat to Irish cereal production that can significantly reduce crop yields. As reliance on insecticides becomes increasingly unsustainable, his research explored alternative approaches to managing BYDV risk through a nationwide aphid monitoring programme involving growers across Ireland.

The project evaluated monitoring tools as early-warning systems for predicting virus risk, alongside the use of tolerant barley varieties, decision support tools, and crop management strategies such as delayed sowing. The research provides practical, science-based approaches to support more sustainable crop protection and strengthen food security within Irish tillage systems.

Jack Perry is a Walsh Scholar in the Crop Research Centre at Teagasc under the supervision of Louise McNamara, Teagasc and Joe Roberts, Harper Adams University.

The Walsh Scholars of the Year competition recognises excellence in research, innovation, communication and leadership among final year doctoral students within the Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme. This year’s finalists represented a broad range of disciplines addressing key challenges facing agriculture, food systems, climate action, environmental sustainability and rural development.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Jane Kavanagh, Head of Research Development and Walsh Scholars at Teagasc, said: “The Walsh Scholars Programme supports exceptional postgraduate researchers who are helping to shape the future of Ireland’s agri-food sector through high-quality, applied research. This year’s finalists demonstrated outstanding scientific excellence, innovation and commitment to addressing real-world challenges. We are delighted to recognise Jack Perry as the 2026 Walsh Scholars Gold Medal recipient and congratulate all finalists on their achievements.”

This year’s awards also marked Teagasc’s contribution to the first European Doctoral Day, an initiative celebrating the vital role of doctoral researchers in advancing scientific excellence, innovation, and societal progress across Europe.

The event also featured a keynote address from Dr Daragh Clancy, Principal Advisor to the Chief Economist at the Central Bank of Ireland and former Head of the Monetary Policy Division. A former Walsh Scholar himself, Dr Clancy reflected on the importance of doctoral research in shaping public policy, innovation and leadership, drawing on his own career journey from Teagasc researcher to senior roles across Irish and European financial institutions.

Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc, said: “Doctoral researchers play a critical role in delivering the innovation and evidence needed to address the major challenges facing agriculture and society. The breadth and quality of research presented by this year’s finalists reflects the strength of the Walsh Scholars Programme and the importance of continued investment in research and innovation. I congratulate all of the finalists and wish them every success in their future careers.”

Finalists in Walsh Scholars of the Year 2026

A total of 13 finalists were recognised across Teagasc’s four research programmes.

Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme (AGRIP)

• 1st Place: Jake Delaney (Irish) – Investigated infectious lameness in Irish sheep flocks to improve animal welfare and productivity.
• 2nd Place: Helena Walsh (Irish) – Explored lower chemical nitrogen dairy systems using white clover to improve sustainability.
• 3rd Place: Eliza Murphy (Irish) – Examined assisted reproductive technologies to accelerate genetic gain in dairy-beef systems.
• 4^th Place: Izuchukwu Martin Aroh (Nigerian) – Developed practical strategies to monitor and reduce ammonia emissions from pig farms.

Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme (CELUP)

• 1st Place and Gold Medal winner: Jack Perry (British) – Developed sustainable management approaches for aphids and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in Irish cereal production.
• 2nd Place: Karuna Shrestha (Nepalese) – Investigated disease-tolerant ash and elm trees to support resilient native forests.
• 3rd Place: Luke Barnes (British) – Assessed the impact of peat-free compost alternatives on Brassica crop quality and sustainability.

Food Programme

• 1st Place: Zuo Song (Chinese) – Investigated the use of Irish-grown plant proteins in hybrid meat and plant-based food products.
• 2nd Place: Jack Prendeville (Irish) – Explored duckweed as a sustainable protein source for food and feed systems.
• 3rd Place: Stergios Melios (Greek) – Examined consumer acceptance of nitrite-free and meatless cured meat alternatives.
• 4^th Place: Georgios Anagnostou (Greek) – Applied advanced spectroscopic technologies to predict meat sensory quality.

Rural Economy and Development Programme (REDP)

• 1st Place: Saeed S. Ahangarkolaee (Iranian) – Modelled the cost-effectiveness of greenhouse gas mitigation technologies on Irish farms.
• 2nd Place: Mozahid Nur (Bangladeshi) – Evaluated the economic and environmental efficiency of Irish and EU agricultural systems.

Jane Kavanagh, Head of Research Development and Walsh Scholars at Teagasc spoke to Jack Perry after the announcement was made, watch the video here https://youtube.com/shorts/aWWXAZJ-xm4

About the Walsh Scholars Programme

The Walsh Scholars Programme is Teagasc’s postgraduate training programme and supports students undertaking research in partnership with higher education institutions across Ireland and internationally. The programme plays a central role in developing future research leaders for the agri-food sector.

For more information on the Walsh Scholars Programme visit https://teagasc.ie/about/research-innovation/the-walsh-scholars-programme/

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