Minister Heydon has announced €22.3 million in new research grants focusing on areas such as animal health, food safety, and the bioeconomy. This funding builds on previous investments, bringing the total to €46 million, the largest ever from a research call by his department.
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The grants will support 48 postgraduate students and 55 postdoctoral researchers across 17 institutions. Combined with previous projects, over 200 research positions will be funded, helping to keep Ireland at the forefront of agricultural and food science.
Key research areas include:
- Low-emissions dairy production
- Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils
- Climate change adaptation for Irish agriculture
- Peatland forest management
- Sustainable antimicrobial use in dairy farming
This initiative also includes collaboration with Northern Ireland, funding projects that involve both Irish and Northern Irish research organizations.
Institutions receiving funding include Teagasc, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and University of Limerick. The research aims to drive innovation and sustainability in the Irish agriculture, food, and bioeconomy sectors.