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Launch of FutureSoils Programme

30 Jan 2023

Grassland Agro, via the SFI funded VistaMilk Research Centre, will support two PhD students in Agricultural Science at UCC as part of the FutureSoils programme. The students will conduct research at Teagasc鈥檚 dairy research centre of excellence at Moorepark, and its environmental centre of excellence at Johnstown Castle.

FutureSoils is an innovative new research programme that will pave the way to improved efficiency in nitrogen fertiliser use and soil health on Irish farms.

Agricultural Science at UCC is anchored out of the School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UCC.

Liam Woulfe, Managing Director of Grassland Agro, commented at the launch; 鈥淕rassland Agro are acutely aware of the challenges ahead for the Irish Agri-industry. Policy dictates that chemical fertiliser nitrogen use on Irish farms is becoming increasingly restricted. Strategic use of fertiliser inputs is therefore the future and we believe this must be underpinned by science. We are pleased to invest in this research and the next generation of agri-research scientists鈥�.

Professor Michael O鈥橠onovan, Head of Grassland Science at Teagasc, stated; 鈥渢his is a unique project for grassland production and soil science. It will examine the structural, chemical and biological properties of Irish soils to determine how the soil can be harnessed to sustain sward dry matter production despite reduced chemical Nitrogen (N) fertiliser use; the outcomes of the research will be impactful for years to come鈥�.

Professor Sarah Culloty, Head, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, UCC, commented; " It is great to see that Grassland Agro are collaborating with the excellent researchers at UCC, Teagasc and Vistamilk on new ways to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges, while supporting the talent pipeline that is so critical to the鈥疘rish鈥疉gricultural鈥痠ndustry.鈥�

Professor Frank Buckley, Professor of Agricultural Science at UCC and academic programme director, added; 鈥樷�檛his is a very exciting initiative that will equip the Irish industry with new knowledge to reboot how we currently appraise soil fertility. It will bring precision to on-farm nitrogen fertiliser management through tailored solutions that will support enhanced environmentally and economically sustainable nutrient use on Irish farms. We at UCC are delighted to partner with Grassland Agro and Teagasc on this innovative post-graduate programme and look forward to welcoming two new PhD students to our growing repertoire of agricultural research students at UCC鈥�.

Professor Astrid Wingler, Head, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences at UCC, commented: 鈥渨e are delighted that Grassland Agro supports such an important area of agricultural research at UCC. Soil health is vital for sustained agricultural production, and the FutureSoils programme provides a unique opportunity for cross-disciplinary research within our School and the wider UCC Futures Sustainability strategy.鈥�
Grassland Agro is an Irish company specialising in soil, plant and animal nutrition/welfare