Four UCD projects among €1.7m awarded for soil and agri-digital research
Posted 8 August, 2023
Four major UCD projects seeking to ensure good soil health and transform farm management practices have received funding as part of a €1.7 million investment in soils and agri-digital research.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D., today announced awards of just over €1.7 million for five projects related to soils and agri-digital research.
Almost €1m has been awarded to two projects under the European Joint Programme on Agricultural Soil Management (EJP SOIL) that will see University College Dublin, Teagasc and the Tyndall National Institute investigate the development of innovative sensing technologies for monitoring and mapping of soil management systems.
The researchers will also examine how climate-smart management of cropping systems can contribute to carbon sequestration and improved cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients.
These projects involve collaboration with research organisations from a total of 10 European countries.
Another €500,000 will go to two projects under the European Research Network for ICT Agri-Food; here UCD and Munster Technological University will be involved in examining artificial intelligence applications for farming, and ICT for traceability and transparency in food and beverages.
These projects involve collaboration with research organisations from five European countries.
“[These] projects will see Irish researchers collaborate with other scientists across Northern Ireland, Europe and the US,” said Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon, TD.
“There is a strong emphasis on soil research because good soil health is crucial in sequestering carbon, cycling nutrients, building resilience against climate change and is the foundation of our food systems.”
Adding: “The research being supported in the area of agri-digitalisation, particular the use of artificial intelligence, is also exciting and has the potential to transform our agri-food systems to become more efficient, sustainable, and resilient.”
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
