A new research initiative focusing on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced carbon sequestration in ruminant, pasture-based production systems has been launched between Ireland and New Zealand.
The launch of the new Joint Research Mechanism (JRM) is a result of the Ministerial Statement on Joint Cooperation in Agriculture between Ireland and New Zealand, made last October.
Marking the signing of the MoA, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue stated: “Our two countries have a strong existing collaboration in areas such as grassland research and animal breeding, and in more recent years, in climate-related research. However, the time is now right to increase the level of collaboration in research that will accelerate the discovery of scientific innovations to mitigate the impact of agriculture on climate change.”
Minister of State with special responsibility for research and innovation Martin Heydon also announced the launch of the first Joint Research Call under the Mechanism. He remarked: “It is an exciting development that we are able to announce the first formal call under this new partnership. I am also pleased that we are delivering on an important commitment in Food Vision 2030 around increasing international research collaboration, and to enhance Ireland’s leadership on how greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming are understood and addressed.”
The Call will be funded directly by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries. Under three research topics, it will aim to investigate:
- the understanding of rumen microbiology for the development of ruminant greenhouse gas mitigation
- technologies that will accelerate the selection of low-emitting ruminant livestock
- the development of emission factors from agriculture to improve the accuracy of greenhouse gas emission inventories.
More information is available at the following link: Research and Codex