Chathurrdhika Yogarajah

Project Title: Economic Sustainability of Diversification Opportunities within the Irish Tillage Sector

Overview: Chathurrdhika is a currently doing her PhD in the field of Agricultural Economics under Rural Development Programme Research. Her research study aims to investigate the economic sustainability of diversification opportunities within the Irish tillage sector which is the part of a multidisciplinary project named Protein-i. With a growing global population and an urgent need to diversify the foods that currently contribute to our protein intake, it is crucial to develop and evaluate crop-based value chains to ensure that rural communities in Ireland benefit in terms of on-farm diversification. The primary objective of her study is to develop a bio-economic model to assess the economic and environmental sustainability at farm level, and to look at the economic viability of alternative protein crop scenarios as a diversification opportunity for Irish farmers. The study also will focus on the quantitative analysis at farm level to identify the drivers of adoption of some of the agronomic practices and the willingness of certain cohorts of farmers to adopt such practices. This research study represents a significant step towards future-proofing our food system in Ireland by contributing in protecting both planetary and population health, within the context of a just transition.

Programme Area: Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys

Supervisors: Dr. Fiona Thorne, Dr. David Stead, Dr. Thomas McCabe 

Funding Source: Teagasc