Anusree Mohanan

Project Title: Economic, Environmental and Social Sustainability of Irish Horticulture

Overview: Anusree Mohanan is a PhD researcher at Teagasc & Cork University Business School, UCC. Her research focuses on the economic sustainability of Ireland’s horticultural food system, as part of a larger multidisciplinary project aimed at enhancing the sector’s long-term viability. With over 80% of Ireland’s fruit and vegetable consumption reliant on imports, her work contributes to efforts that support local production, aligning with national and EU sustainability goals, including the EU Green Deal and the Climate Action Plan.

Anusree is developing a framework to assess the socio-economic and environmental performance of the Irish horticulture sector. Her research also examines the factors influencing horticultural product pricing, the societal value of national fruit and vegetable production, and consumer drivers and barriers to purchasing local, seasonal produce. This work aims to provide evidence-based insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to strengthen Ireland’s horticultural sector.

With a background in agricultural extension and innovation, she is gaining expertise in economic analysis, sustainability metrics, and policy evaluation Originally from India, Anusree enjoys experimenting with different cuisines in the kitchen and exploring new flavours. She is also a passionate dancer and loves expressing herself through movement. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and unwinding with a good film.

Programme Area: Rural Economy and Development

Supervisors: Dr. Fiona Thorne , Dr. Sinead McCarthy, Dr. Thia Hennessy and Dr. Mary McCarthy

Location: Teagasc Ashtown

Funding source: Teagasc