DAERA announces £1.3 million for new research projects
The Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced that three research institutions in Northern Ireland are to benefit from £1.3 million of new funding awarded through the DAERA/DAFM 2019 Competitive Research Call.
The funding will be shared across eight collaborative projects involving one or more research partners from Northern Ireland including the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Ulster University and Queen’s University.
The research and development partnership between DAERA and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in the Republic of Ireland, identifies opportunities to co-fund research in areas of shared strategic priority in the agri-food, forestry or bio-economy sections across the two jurisdictions.
Funding is available to Northern Ireland research organisations for collaborative projects involving at least one research organisation from the Republic of Ireland.
Successful collaborations and projects in this latest tranche include:
Making the announcement, DAERA deputy chief scientific adviser Dr Paul Devine said: “This is an excellent example of a successful collaborative approach to research to address common issues across both jurisdictions.
"The research delivered through this programme has the potential to contribute significantly to the future sustainability of the local agri-food sector. This Partnership approach focuses on the research capacity and expertise to meet the growing needs of this diverse sector.
“The department recognises that science has a vital role in providing our farmers and agri-food industry with a competitive edge in highly demanding markets.
"By addressing transnational issues affecting the sustainability of the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland creates many overarching benefits.
“This funding to local scientists will play an essential part in assisting the agri-food sector here face the challenges of increasingly competitive markets. Sharing both knowledge and resources through collaboration enhances both the quality of research, and the value derived from DAERA funding,” he concluded.
For more information on this funding award, click here and click here
