MAIS Projects

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2022-2024

Clodagh Bolger - A multi-actor, local approach to increasing lime usage on Irish farms
Donal Brennan - Improving Advisory Services for Better Soil Health on Grassland Farms: Test and develop the Grass Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) method as a visual KT tool to promote good soil management.
Emily Gowing - Farmer lead identification of barriers and solutions to the adoption of clover on dairy farms
Oliver Gill - The monetary effects of adjusting farm management techniques and stocking rates to maximise climate and biodiversity ecosystem services in the Comeragh Mountain uplands.
Bryan Twomey - Succession and Inheritance Project Teams
Marc McKeon - Identifying, supporting, and attracting a diversity of learners to Teagasc further education and training courses
Ciaran Kinahan - Farm safety interventions to help advisers promote safety with livestock.
Claire Dolan - Part time farmer’s engagement with advisory services and how it can be improved.

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2021-2023

Laura Daly - A study of farmer’s attitudes towards growing catch crops in a catchment with high stream water concentrations of nitrate N, whilst developing KT methodology to further adoption.
Niamh Dunphy - Engaging Farmers in Conversations about Climate Change
John Mahon - To evaluate the Teagasc Podcast as a digital advisory tool and to make recommendations for future development.
Roisin McManus - Achieving improvements in water quality through targeted organic manure storage advice
Diarmuid Mulkerrins - Farmer preferences for actions needed to adhere to changes in the Nitrates Action Programme
Michael O’Loughlin - Establishing the Adoption of new dairy technologies by small-scale dairy farmers in Kenya
Aoife Seymour - Dairy Farmer Decision Making Process Regarding Core and Non-Core Tasks.

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2020-2022

Jennifer Bracken - Application of digital advisory tools and services within a farm advisory service context
Penny Gavin - Towards increasing Farmer and Advisor Engagement in Occupational Health and Safety on Farms
Catherine Kilmartin - Identify and analyse best practices in interactive innovation across Europe and the competencies required by advisors to support interactive innovation
Martin McNamara - Smart Farming on rural farms demonstrating benefits to the wider agri-food community and co-creating new food products and services
Michael O'Connor - An examination of the use of online tools for evaluation and impact assessment of multi-actor innvation in the beef advisory services in Ireland in the context of Covid-19
Orla Walsh - Effective teaching and learning strategies with the potential to enhance sustainable farming knowledge and skillsets amongst Teagasc full-time agricultural students

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2019-2021

Aoife Flannery - Enhancing the use of Digital Advisory / Digital Communication Tools with Farm Advisors
Aoife Leader - Towards improving environmental sustainability on dairy farms in Ireland: the development of an effective communication method for the increased adoption of biodiversity management practices
Donnacha Ryan - Barriers To The Adoption Of The Teagasc MACC Actions To Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions On Dairy Farms
Eóin Lynch - Capacity Building for Commonage Groups within the Wicklow SUAS
Lisa O'Toole - Developing an Understanding of the Relationships and Methodologies in Contract Cropping Agreements
Margaret Farrell - Diversity and inclusion in agricultural education: Teagasc staff experiences and perspectives
Niall Duffy - An investigation into farm specific messages & analysis tools to promote EBI with dairy farmers in the Lakelands region

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2018-2020

Ruth Bennett Coady - The role of Knowledge Transfer and farmer engagement in halting the decline of threatened farmland species
Aoife Forde - Facilitating and enabling drystock farmers to engage in short value chains in Kerry
Roisin Horan - Development of a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for farmers including graduates of Teagasc Educational Programmes and Host Farmers.
Meadhbh Johnston - Observations on the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) initiatives supporting Teagasc Advisors – a case study in Teagasc
John Maguire - Equipping Teagasc teachers to teach using a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach
Daniel McPartlin - The role and effectiveness of local led KT initiatives - examining the "Grass on the By-Pass" project
Eamonn O’Flaherty - A qualitative approach to developing guidelines for employment of drystock farmers on dairy farms
Louise Pierce - Perfecting the message on silage quality
Mairead Quinn - Innovative Teaching for Distance learning in Agriculture Courses
Aoife Rooney - Determining technical and human factors parameters for optimal rollout of online assessment across the range of Teagasc education courses

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2017-2019

Cormac Brennan - The implementation of NMP recommendations by a targeted Dairy Discussion Group
Amy Connolly - Using Nutrient Management Plans (NMP) to deliver soil fertility advise under GRASS10.
Lorraine Delahunty - An Evaluation of the future role of and support for practical learning.
Suzanne Groome - Dairy farm employer and employee characteristics
Philip Kennedy - How can agricultural extension services support Irish Dairy farms using AMS Systems?
James Lynch - Alignment of education planning and choices to longer term business and succession needs on dairy farms.
Oisin McGlynn - Engaging the 'middle third' of Dairy farmers - Teagasc Glanbia joint programme
Rachel Spillane - Improving profit on winter milk farms - use of co-design approach to enhance knowledge transfer packages
Emma Swan - Development of a blue print for the disseminating best management practices for rush control to improve the productivity of grassland and minimise herbicide loss to water

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2016-2018

Niamh Garvey - Assessing extension methods to promote uptake of computer based grass budgeting on dairy farms
Ciara O'Donovan - Develop and test proxy indicators for farm profitability and efficiency measurement for Knowledge Transfer uses with beef, sheep, dairy and tillage farms
Kevin Cunningham - Identification and evaluation of innovative teaching approaches which enhance agricultural students engagement in classroom settings
Brian Duggan - Determine how to improve Knowledge Transfer in Integrated Pest Management on tillage farms
Hayden Lalor - Develop and assess a decision support system to integrate lowland and upland management on High Nature Value farms
Grainne McGrath - Determination of what is needed to enhance access and participation for learners with diverse ability levels in agricultural education programmes
Yvonne Grace - Training needs evaluation of the Irish Horticulture workforce in the Leinster area
Padraig Fogarty - An examination of why dairy farmers who were trained in grass measuring during their role as monitor farmers discontinued the use of the technology
Wesley Fennell - An examination of categories of dairy farmers in Mayo based on their adoption of certain farming technologies
John Moriarty - Develop and assess digital and visual tools for Knowledge Transfer in the pig industry

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2015-2017

Stephen Robb - The Development of a Producer Group Model within the Bioenergy Heat Sector
Martin Mulkerrins - The influence of the BETTER Farm Sheep Programme in terms of practice change
Conor Holohan - Best practice experience in Farmer Discussion Groups – Development of an Advisor’s Handbook
Sinead Flannery - Analysis of Ag teachers’ / education officers’ experience of their role as educators and identification of improvements to better prepare them for their role
Redmond McEvoy - The role and value of Teagasc-Industry Joint Programmes for KT – lessons from the Tipperary Coop Joint Programme
Claire Bambrick - Evaluate the communication methods used to disseminate the findings of a dairy research farm for extension purposes
Michael Ryan - An Evaluation of the Teagasc Level 6 Advanced Programme in Dairy Herd Management and identification of future needs in curriculum development
Fergus O’Rourke - Strategic use of benchmarking tools
Peter Grogan - An Approach to Building Effective Agricultural Advisor-Client Relationships
Alastair Pollock - A Knowledge Transfer Approach to Collaborative Farming Structures for the Dairy Industry
Aishling Molloy - How Teagasc advisory services can improve engagement with and empowerment of farm women

Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support Research Projects 2014-2016

Meabh O'Hagan - Assessing farmers perception of green house gas (GHG) Emissions and developing effective KT interventions to support practice change and emissions reductions. (To be carried out in conjunction with Bord Bia)
Conor Kavanagh - Review of advisory tools and methodologies to engage with 'hard to reach' dairy farmers
Oisin Coakley - Categorisation of ‘hard to reach’ dairy farmers in terms of their aspirations, intentions and motivations
Joanne Masterson - Review of advisory tools and methodologies to engage with 'hard to reach' drystock farmers
John Ryan - Soil Fertility – develop and test Knowledge Transfer initiatives to support achievement of high performance on farms
Carly Boyd - Potential impact of collaborative farming agreement on the development of sustainable farming systems and the achievement of environmental outcomes
Tom Deane - Categorisation of ‘hard to reach’ drystock farmers in terms of their aspirations, intentions and motivations
Sean Mannion - KT Events – what are the key ingredients for effective farmer learning and adoption
John Greany - Review/examine/develop online modes and tools for on-going review and updating of farm business plans by farmers and advisors
Paul Newman - The benefits and risks of categorising farmers. Categorising farmers at local level. Where can we get the data?
Ayano Teyeka - Assessing Extension Approaches for Innovation with Farmers in Ethiopia