Ireland has announced a €37.5 million investment to fund 30 new research projects across the agri-food, forestry and bioeconomy sectors, involving 19 research institutions. The funding, unveiled by Martin Heydon and Noel Grealish, is aimed at strengthening innovation and ensuring these sectors remain competitive, resilient and sustainable in the years ahead.
The research programme focuses on a wide range of priorities, including improving food innovation and nutrition, enhancing water quality, supporting biodiversity, addressing climate change, and advancing animal health, welfare and farm safety. It will also explore practical solutions such as functional foods for healthy ageing, improved environmental monitoring, sustainable packaging, disease control in livestock, and reducing agricultural emissions through new feed technologies.
A strong emphasis has been placed on collaboration and skills development, with the projects expected to support the training of over 90 postgraduate students and more than 60 researchers. This is intended to build a pipeline of scientific talent and ensure that the latest research translates into real-world benefits for farmers, producers and the wider agri-food industry.
The initiative also includes cross-border cooperation with Northern Ireland, where the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is contributing €3.1 million to support joint research projects. This partnership builds on longstanding collaboration to address shared agricultural and environmental challenges across the island.
Additional support includes €750,000 in co-funding from the Department of Health for a specific project, further highlighting the programme’s cross-sectoral approach. Overall, the investment aligns with Ireland’s broader strategies to drive innovation, sustainability and long-term growth in its agri-food and bioeconomy sectors.
