Queen’s University and AFBI win international funding in race to decarbonise agriculture and promote environmental sustainability

One such project, Facilitating Innovations for Resilient Livestock Farming Systems, will see Queen’s, with support from AFBI, join a coalition of 37 research and industry partners from 14 countries across Europe and Australia to explore options for improved environmental outcomes.

Led by Dr Katerina Theodoridou of IGFS, in collaboration with Dr Tianhai Yan of AFBI, the Northern Ireland researchers, who will receive just under €500,000, will explore the use of multi-species swards such as clover, chicory and plantain to improve environmental resilience, including biodiversity and better soil health. Agricultural economists at Queen's will also be exploring the role of new technologies and innovations in driving sustainability on farms.

Another successful project, The Role of Virtual Fencing in Sustainable Grazing Management, fought off competition to land prestigious, all-Ireland HEA funding of €200,000 to explore wearable technology for livestock. The aim is to enhance sustainability by facilitating more precise grazing management in hills and uplands, more effectively keeping animals out of protected areas and wildlife zones.

The HEA project is led by University College Dublin with Dr Gareth Arnott from IGFS as the Northern Ireland lead and Dr Francis Lively of AFBI a third partner.

A third project, Food For Feed, will explore the use of agrifood industry by-products for use in animal feed to promote the circular economy. By-products that would normally be binned will be trialled in animal feed in a bid to reduce food waste.

Researchers are also expecting other benefits from this project including improved animal health along with a reduction in ammonia and methane GHG emissions.

Director of Sustainable Agrifood Sciences at AFBI and honorary professor at Queen’s, Dr Elizabeth Magowan commented: “These recent funding success stories are testament to the expertise between AFBI and Queen’s and are very encouraging in our strive to deliver solutions locally with global impact.”