ACP work packages

Project Management

The ACP has been integrated with the Environment Soils and Land-Use Department. ACP phase 4 will deepen the integration with the Teagasc research programme within CELUP and socioeconomics in REDP. The Programme Manager has responsibility for the overall management of the programme and delivery of its outputs and reports to the Head of the Environment and Land_Use Department in Johnstown Castle.

Farmer Liaison, Knowledge Transfer and Data Collection

Provide national focal points for technology transfer and education
NMP online completion
Farm management and facilities data collection
Use Carbon navigator with catchment farmers

Baseline biophysical data collection

Soil, surface water and groundwater including nutrients, sediment, emerging contaminants and aquatic ecology
Greenhouse gases and ammonia
Soil carbon sequestration

Mitigation measure evaluation

Identify and model the efficacy of existing and new mitigation measures to improve water quality and reduce gaseous emissions
Testing efficacy of new measures for improving water quality and reducing greenhouse gas/ammonia emissions
Spatial targeting of mitigation measures to optimise efficacy
Test at sub catchment/field scale the efficacy of new mitigation measures improve sustainability

Biophysical Modelling

N and P loss to water from derogation and non derogation farms
Influence of changing weather patterns on N and P loss to water
Greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions
Carbon sequestration
Trends and future scenarios
Upscale to river basins

Socio economic Studies

Economic evaluation of existing and new measures
Farmer practice change
Attitudes and perceptions
Willingness to adopt

Data Management and GIS

This task will be led by KT/Dissemination Specialist (KTS) who will have a coordinating role and will devote the bulk of their time to this Work Package.

Dissemination

This task will be led by KT/Dissemination Specialist (KTS) who will have a coordinating role and will devote the bulk of their time to this Work Package . The focus will be on getting key sustainability messages out to farmers nationally rather than within the catchments. A substantial part of the work will be aimed at reaching an audience right across the agri-food sector and beyond to the environmental science/policy area. The areas included will be soil fertility, water quality, greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, carbon sequestration and biodiversity