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Spotlights

Sustainable Food Systems

Transforming to a better future for all

Leading the way in agrifood innovation and research, Ireland can offer the world solutions that tackle the era-defining challenge of a just transition. UCD has developed a comprehensive knowledge base that can inform the food sector from farm-to-fork.

Transitioning food systems

UCD experts are spearheading the movement to transform food systems and ensure affordable, nutritious food for a healthy life. This multi-disciplinary research supports food security, food integrity and climate change adaptation nationally and globally.

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Impact through partnership

Bringing together researchers from different disciplines to deliver pioneering solutions to global challenges, this series of videos highlights strong research partnerships and links between UCD Institute of Food and Health and key industry stakeholders.

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Life on Earth depends on Soil

Soils are the foundation of our food systems, providing clean water and habitats for biodiversity while contributing to climate resilience. UCD researchers are working to protect this precious resource by advancing knowledge around biodiversity, sustainable agricultural management practices and carbon sequestration.

See spotlight on Soil

Farm Zero C

Farm Zero C is a unique project bringing together industry (Carbery Group), academia (BiOrbic Research Centre, UCD and Trinity College Dublin) farmers and other partners, to create a world first, carbon neutral, net zero emissions dairy farm in West Cork.

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New food sustainability co-centre to transform systems

UCD co-leads the new €31.5 million Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, which will accelerate radical transitions towards a more sustainable and transparent agri-food sector in Ireland and the UK. World-leading researchers will work closely with government and industry to deliver innovative solutions that will drive societal and political change in the transition to climate neutrality by 2050.

World leaders in soil biodiversity meet to discuss urgent global challenges

UCD and Teagasc co-hosted the 3rd Global Soil Biodiversity Conference in March 2023, a major international conference in association with the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative that brought together leading scientific experts and delegates from 120 countries. Scientists, technologists, experimentalists, modellers, students and practitioners from across the world shared insights and knowledge with policy makers, regulators, environmental agencies, conservationists and land user managers about creating a better future.

June 2018

The potential of cold plasma for safe and sustainable food production

Trends in biotechnology

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July 2019

Soil nematode abundance and functional group composition at a global scale

Nature

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October 2019

A global synthesis reveals biodiversity-mediated benefits for crop production

Science Advances

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November 2022

An innovative food system approach to diversifying protein intake: Protein-I: Shared Island sustainable healthy nutrition

Nutrition Bulletin

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