The Research Field

Smart phones and apps are becoming more a part of the lives of farmer’s lives in Ireland, and around the world.

This episode features Dr Ursula Kenny based at the Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis Department of Teagasc who has investigated the use of apps by some farmers in Ireland and the resistance to them from others.

Soils, Insects, Seaweed

Aoife Duff describes her research into keep Irish soils in balance, and reducing the reliance on fertilisers to grow crops.

Carlos Alvarez talks about the growing market for insects as food, for human and animal consumption, and how Ireland can benefit from it.

Maria Hayes discuss the potential of seaweeds to reduce methane emissions from cattle, sheep and dairy cows.

A recent Teagasc Map of the Month research project, looked at how Irish place names can provide clues to Ireland’s agricultural past.

This podcast features Jesko Zimmermann, a Data Technologist based in the Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis Department describing the project, and what it revealed about how agricultural was done in times past, around Ireland.

The UN General Assembly has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health in order to raise global awareness about how protecting plant health is vital to ending hunger, protecting the environment and boost our economies.

Helen Grogan is a Horticulture Research Officer with Teagasc. Here she outlines the various threats to plant health in Ireland, the efforts underway in Ireland and at EU level to combat these threats, and why the success of such efforts is vital for all Irish people.

Food consumers today want fresher, healthier and additive-free foods that also last longer on the shelf.

Dr Elena Inguglia is a researcher based at the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Ashtown who is developing new technologies to satisfy consumer demands.

Here, Elena describes how some of our foods are currently processed, and how these processes might be improved for the consumer.