Agri-Food Business and Spatial Analysis

Vision

That AFBSA be:

A recognised centre of expertise for social- and behavioural-science based research and spatial analyses on socio-economic and environmental issues relating to innovation in agriculture, food and the bioeconomy

Objectives

In line with the Teagasc strategic objectives, the department’s overall objective is to collect timely, quality information, to inform decision-making by stakeholders and to support the broader Teagasc research and innovation agenda. This involves undertaking research and interpreting market and policy developments, including:

Identifying strategic market opportunities, including new value chains, new business models and new products
Understanding consumer-citizen behaviour, attitudes and values
Understanding the socio-cultural context framing farmer behaviour
Facilitating the engagement of diverse actors (citizens through to farmers) in research and innovation processes
Evaluating the impacts of rural restructuring for farm and non-farm households
Applying new geospatial understanding and technology to support sustainable agriculture practice and policy at all scales

This work is carried out across four thematic areas.

Agri-innovation & learning

Taking a wide perspective on innovation, e.g. organisational innovations, digitalisation, animal health and production issues, and considering practitioner-led as well as expert-led sources of innovation,

Conduct primary research on human behaviour and facilitate open innovation approaches in the sector using macro (open innovation and AKIS) and micro (individual farmer decision making) level analyses
Support implementation of the multi-actor approach to innovation in a range of contexts, e.g. short food supply chains, sustainability in the beef sector.
Employ user-centred design and the multi-actor approach to support responsible research and innovation in the area of digital agriculture and data governance
Undertaken socio-culturally sensitive approaches to understanding and supporting farm-level change
Co-design of policy and extension tools and programmes.

Market & consumer-citizen research

Address multi-disciplinary themes that span the supply chain, e.g. sustainability, innovation, food quality, health, to contribute to the improved marketing and innovation performance of the Irish agri-food sector, and wider the bioeconomy :

Carry out primary research on consumer behaviour and attitudes towards health, sustainability, novel food technologies and ingredients, and tastes and preferences
Identify new market opportunities in the wider bioeconomy, with appreciation of non-food areas as well as interactions between food, health and sustainability
Facilitate public engagement processes to support responsible research and innovation in the areas of food and farming (e.g. new technology development, farm animal health & welfare, human health and nutrition).

Sustainable Livelihoods

Research on farmer behaviours and attitudes regarding farm safety, including operation of machinery and human-animal relations
Co-design of interventions to improve farmer health and welfare.
Co-design of policy options to future-proof Irish farming in the context of various policy targets.

Spatial Analysis

Spatial analysis and remote sensing of rural Ireland to provide a comprehensive analysis of all land–based activities at the interface between the agri-food sector, economy and environment
Development of digital technologies for tracking and managing carbon emissions and carbon sequestration focused on land usage practices
Application and use of web mobile tools to facilitate location-based data collection to aid context-based decision making
Develop knowledge and tools to support SMART agriculture
Building geo-informatics infrastructure to support analysis of agricultural, environmental and rural development policy.

Department Structure

Agri-Innovation & Learning
Market & Consumer-citizen Research
Sustainable Livelihoods
Spatial Analysis

Read more about the department Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis (PDF)