Irish researchers have secured funding of €3.6 million to support climate and agriculture research projects.

The investment will help progress four projects from the 2022 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call.

Total funding from both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries will amount to over €7M for the four successful projects.

The research seeks to address the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from pasture-based livestock systems to help meet the climate goals of both countries.

Speaking on the announcement of the awards, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. said: "I am delighted to be able to announce, in collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, the awarding of over €7M in combined funding for research projects to help tackle the critical issue of enteric emissions from livestock farming. Awards under this new partnership reflect the significant investment that both governments are making to help ensure the future sustainability of our livestock systems."

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Minister of State with special responsibility for research and innovation, Martin Heydon T.D. commented: "Ireland and New Zealand are unique in being faced with a significant challenge to reduce and offset emissions from our pasture-based, livestock farming systems. Research and innovation will play a key role in addressing that challenge. The collaboration we will see in these four projects, will bring together some of the best expertise, know-how, equipment and experience in both our countries and by working together, I am confident we can speed up the pace of the research and deliver solutions that the sector needs."

Minister For Primary Industries Damien O’Connor M.P. added: "New Zealand and Ireland understand the complexities of farming systems and the need to enhance productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The partnership between New Zealand and Ireland, including the new projects announced today, will allow both countries to accelerate research to deliver much-needed tools and technology to farmers to reduce their emissions.

"New Zealand and Ireland are also founding members of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). We have shared interests in pasture-based farming, we co-chair the GRA Livestock Research Group, and are committed to reducing agricultural emissions globally."

The four projects are in key areas including rumen microbiology for reducing GHG emissions, monitoring and emission reduction technologies, animal breeding for reduced emissions, and inventory improvement. Taken together they offer significant potential for the development of new insights and technologies to better account for, and mitigate, GHG emissions.